COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Columbus Police Department has identified the officer that was involved in a fatal shooting on Wednesday in Franklinton.
The department says Officer Kenneth Bowers shot and killed the armed man, who was reportedly threatening himself along South Yale Avenue Wednesday morning.
Bowers is a 21-year veteran of the force.
ABC-6 has reported that victim as 52-year-old Billy Heeter. He was rushed to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Columbus Police say they are always sensitive to the needs of people who may have a mental issue. But they stress that Heeter also had a gun. "A person who is suicidal can often become homicidal, and I think the officers keep that in the back of their minds. I'm certainly not saying that's what happened in this case, but we're always careful especially when someone has a gun," Sgt. Chantay Boxill said.
(photo courtesy ABC-6)