Both Columbus officers who shot homicide suspect involved in previous shootings

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Division of Police has identified two of its officers who shot a 16-year-old suspect Wednesday, and both have previously been involved in deadly encounters.

On Thursday, CPD named Officer Brian Carter and SWAT team member Matthew Liford as the pair who fired their weapons while pursuing a teenage murder suspect. Investigators were searching for the 16-year-old, who was accused of killing 39-year-old Alejandro Lopez-Lechuga while trying to break into the victim's car. Lopez-Lechuga had confronted the teen around midnight at the Hyde Park Townhomes before being shot.

Hours later, Columbus police stopped the teen in a car on Cooper Colony Drive. Sgt. Joe Albert said when the 16-year-old got out of the vehicle with a rifle and tried to run away, it led to Carter and Liford opening fire. Emergency crews took the teen to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, but he was still alive as of Thursday evening. Columbus police said he had been charged with murder for Lopez-Lechuga's death, with additional counts possible. As part of standard procedure with police shootings, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling a review of both officers' conduct.

Liford has worked for CPD for 26 years, and was previously a burglary detective before being assigned to the city's SWAT unit. Ohio BCI investigated him and two other officers after they shot and killed 46-year-old Bret Andrews in February 2023.

Accused of raping a minor under 13 years old, Andrews came to Grove City from Athens to evade an outstanding arrest warrant, according to an affidavit. Trying to serve the warrant, Liford and two other SWAT officers used their cruisers to surround Andrews' car in a Home Deport parking lot. Liford was the last officer to use his gun -- firing three shots in bodycam video -- after the group said they saw Andrews "reaching."

Andrews was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital within the hour. Investigators found a firearm in Andrews' car, and a Franklin County grand jury later declined to charge Liford or the other two officers for the shooting.

Carter's history in 33 years with CPD did not include a shooting a person, but a dog instead. During a 2018 training exercise with his K9 partner Benzi, the dog would not listen to Carter's commands and attacked him. The officer suffered serious bites to his arms before he ultimately shot Benzi. It was the first time CPD said one of its officer had ever shot a K9 partner, and Benzi was euthanized by a veterinarian as a result. Carter had to undergo surgery for his injuries from the attack.