Police: Comfest Death Accidental, Not Criminal
NBC 4
Officials determine the stabbing death of an 18-year-old man at Comfest last weekend was accidental, not criminal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Officials have determined that the stabbing death of an 18-year-old man at Comfest last weekend was accidental, not criminal as first indicated.
Columbus police were dispatched to Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., on a disturbance call at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Officers saw two people: One was covered in blood. The second was spotted near the first, blood-covered person, according to CPD Sgt. Rich Weiner. The second person was held for questioning.
A knife was recovered, and witnesses also were questioned, Weiner said.
Victim Bryan Barbin, 18, suffered four to five stab wounds and died from his injuries early Sunday at Grant Medical Center.
Officers questioned a suspect a short time after the incident, according to Columbus police radio dispatchers.
However, according to police, the investigation revealed the stabbing was not criminal in nature and Barbin’s death was ruled accidental, pending the coroner’s autopsy results.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at
.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Ok, am I the only one that has a hard time believing this one? How do you accidentally stab someone 4 or 5 times? Better than that, if the wounds were self inflicted how do you stab yourself that many times? There are a few holes in this story (no pun intended)
That’s a great photo of the cops performing their “investigation”.
I for one see no reason to question their statement.
Are you going to call the mayor because he’s gotten rid of so many police officers for you that you have no one else to call?“
There are cops EVERYwhere. They over-hired too many in the post-9/11 hysteria. Now they’re getting back to the appropriate amount.
Ok…what is the “appropriate amount” of police officers for this large city with an increasing population of out of work, distraught, drug abusing, drinking, scared, desperate people? The police had nothing to do with the media spin to be blamed for saying it was an accident for anyone to claim that the mayor needs to get rid of more officers. This story shouldn’t be about the police saying it was an accident…it should be about the tragic death of a young man at a public event…if it should even be made public in this way. My heart goes out to the families and friends of this young man.
Where in this article does it say the wounds were ‘self-inflicted’? It only says that they were ‘accidental’. That could mean that the other guy is still the one who stabbed him, he just didn’t mean to kill him. Course, if you don’t MEAN to kill someone, you shouldn’t pull a knife to begin with, and you DEFINITELY should NOT stab them 4-5 times! The article should not say the police DETERMINED anything. It should say that they are awaiting the autopsy report.
First and foremost, please let me extend my deepest condolences to this Bryan’s family. Such a loss, and if the reporting is true that it was self inflicted, just that much more of a tragedy. I hope the police and the media are not jumping to conclusions in closing this. I get so tired of the media sensationalizing just to get what they claim is “the story” out there without first checking facts and by doing so hurting families even more with their so-called reporting.
And a special message to Bodie - just let me say for the first time I actually agree with your posts! Wow, maybe you do have a heart. Thank you for actually showing some sympathy for the family and stating what many people do not realize, at any given high school parking lot (and any given weekend party of high schoolers) there are more drugs and drinking than probably 95% of the parents realize. And too many times the alcohol is provided by the parents. Sad, so sad. Thank you Brodie for showing me that you can be sympathetic to others!
Again, prayers, sympathies, love for the family, and for the soul of Bryan.
May peace be with you and God bless.
How does a person get stabbed 4 - 5 times “accidentally”???? Impossible.
“Are you going to call the mayor because he’s gotten rid of so many police officers for you that you have no one else to call?“
There are cops EVERYwhere. They over-hired too many in the post-9/11 hysteria. Now they’re getting back to the appropriate amount.
Natural
Homicide
Accidental
Suicide
Undetermined
Those are the five causes of death. In the Comfest death, perhaps it ought to have been said:
“Undetermined, pending coroner’s autopsy.“
The worst part of this whole thing is the hysterical way (typical) in which the media treated this from the very beginning. Instead of gaining the facts and reporting accurately -the impression was given that there were marauding bands of murderers in Goodale Park at Comfest-and ooohhh! is it safe anymore? The speculation was ridiculous and unhelpful. Try practicing old fashioned journalism and finding out who,what,where,when and how before rushing to be 1st on the spot about what “may” have happened so that you can beat the other stations to the punch. Horrible reporting from the get-go. The Goodale festival -it really hasn’t been Comfest since it left the University area (16th and High) well over 20 years ago. It was afterall the UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY festival not the Short North or entire city of Columbus Community Festival. But it had to go down to the dirt lot that is now Victoria Gate and then Goodale when the University lost its community-feel. Long story short- you get that many people in 1 place and you will have personalities that are troubled and contrary to popular notion-your safety cannot always be guaranteed.
Shocking isn’t it?
I wonder why the cops aren’t wearing gloves while they investigate. Doesn’t this jeapardize the integrity of any evidence?
Advertisement