Body camera footage released in fatal Columbus SWAT standoff
COLUBMUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police have released the body camera footage from the SWAT standoff that left three officers injured and the suspect dead.
The officers were injured during a standoff Aug. 1 with suspect Benjamin Wheeler, 40, that lasted several hours.
Body camera footage shows officers first arriving to the home on Cherryberry Drive around 4:40 p.m. on Aug. 1. The officers were responding to a domestic violence call and met Wheeler's parents outside the home.
According to the footage, his parents were concerned for his safety and asked officers to take him to a hospital. Wheeler then spoke with police himself, telling officers he was armed before going back into the home, the footage shows.
When police learned Wheeler had a warrant out for his arrest for XX, they called for back up. SWAT officers got to the scene around 6 p.m. and tried to get Wheeler to come outside. Around an hour and 40 minutes later, officers walk toward the house.
Body camera footage showed the first officer was injured when they approached the home, with Wheeler cutting the officer's arm.
After nearly two more hours, the barricade ended and officers entered the home. In the footage, Wheeler can be seen throwing furniture and other items from the kitchen. Five bullets and one taser can then be heard in the video being deployed.
Police said at least one officer fired their weapon, and during the exchange at least one additional officer was injured. Minutes later, Wheeler was found dead. All injured officers were hospitalized, but are expected to recover, police said.