A Columbus police officer was reportedly wounded during a confrontation with a man with two guns following a traffic crash and a foot pursuit on the city’s East Side.
Columbus police responded about 6:24 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to a report of a two-vehicle traffic crash on the exit ramp from I-70 East to South Hamilton Road. No injuries were reported, but a man driving one of the vehicles pulled out two handguns and began shooting at the other vehicle, Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert said.
The gunman – identified by Albert as Brandon Burtyk, 32, whom court records show has recent addresses in Reynoldsburg and Grove City – then fled the scene on foot, Albert said.
Police began searching for Burtyk and caught up with him on the 4500 block of Errington Road in the Shady Lane neighborhood just northeast of the South Hamilton Road and East Livingston Avenue intersection.
Burtyk put the two handguns to his head as officers approached, and the multiple officers on the scene drew their weapons and repeatedly ordered the suspect to put his guns down, Albert said.
At some point shortly after 7 p.m., Albert said Burtyk pointed his guns at the officers, who opened fire on him. Burtyk fired at least one shot at the officers before falling to the ground, Albert said.
Brian Steel, president of Fraternal Order of Police Dewey Stokes Capital City Lodge No. 9, said one officer was grazed by gunfire and taken to a hospital for treatment. Police radio traffic indicated the officer was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in stable condition. Albert said the officer was injured, but could not confirm he was wounded.
Somehow, none of the police gunfire hit Burtyk, who immediately threw his weapons away from him as he was on the ground, Albert said. Burtyk was then arrested on a felonious assault charge, though additional charges are expected.
Burtyk was being held Aug. 7 at the Franklin County jail.
Police blocked off Errington Road at the east end at Grimsby Road, off Simpson Drive north of East Livingston Avenue, and also blocked off South Hamilton Road as detectives investigated the scenes into the night.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Officer treated after Columbus police shootout with man with two guns
Reporting by Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
