COLUMBUS – It was not immediately clear if a woman injured when a Columbus police officer discharged a firearm was hit by the officer’s shot or one fired by someone involved in a large fight outside a Northeast Side restaurant/lounge early Saturday morning.
Police say officers were in uniform on special duty at the Living Room Restaurant and Lounge, 6857 Flags Center Drive, shortly before 1:30 a.m. when they heard gunshots from the scene of a fight in the parking lot, Division of Police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said.
While investigating, one officer discharged their firearm and, when officers secured the scene, the woman was found with an apparent gunshot wound.
She was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
UPDATE 2/16/21 7:51 a.m.: The officer has been identified as Ofc. Jaque Carter, a 12 year veteran.
Fuqua says it was not known if the victim’s injury was from the parking lot altercation or from the officer’s firearm.
A firearm was recovered from the scene.
The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.
The woman was one of eight people, including a 17-year-old boy, shot during separate incidents in Columbus between Saturday morning and Sunday night. All the victims are recovering.
One shooting victim has also been charged with felonious assault and police are looking for a second suspect out of the same incident.