COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--An officer in the Columbus Police Department is on leave, following the fatal shooting of a teenage girl on the city's east side late Tuesday afternoon.
Officers say they responded to a call of a disturbance along legion Lane just before 5PM. When the first officer arrived on scene, the officer shot and killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant.
The original calls for help were due to someone holding a knife, and threatening to stab others. A knife was recovered from the scene.
CPD Interim Chief Michael Woods says the Ohio BCI is now investigating the case.
The shooting prompted protests at the scene Tuesday, along with protests downtown in front of CPD headquarters, where crowds were already awaiting word on the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial.
CPD also released body cam footage of the shooting Tuesday night, with Woods saying the footage was made public so early as a matter of transparency.
Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. says if the officer was found to have broken the law, the case will be prosecuted.