CPD: Rape Suspect Fatally Shot By Police Was Unarmed
Police say the rape suspect who was shot and killed on a local interstate was unarmed at the time of his death.
COLUMBUS, Ohio —Police said Friday the rape suspect who was shot and killed on a local interstate was unarmed at the time of his death.
Columbus police said that Abram Bynum made two separate motions that made it appear he was reaching for a gun, NBC 4‘s Mike Bowersock reported.
Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said all indications are that the chase, crash and shooting was a “suicide by cop” scenario in which a suspect hopes to be shot and killed by officers.
“As officers are trying to save his life there were movements gestures made by him, which made the officers believe that he was preparing to fire upon them,“ said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner.
Bynum was shot after a police pursuit that began Tuesday at about 4 p.m. at Beechwood and Main and continued onto Interstate 70 on the city’s east side.
During the pursuit, Bynum crossed the median and collided head-on with a tanker truck.
When officers approached the suspect, he was still moving and appeared to be reaching for a weapon and was shot by police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they believe the six officers who fired upon Bynum acted correctly.
It was announced Thursday evening that Bynum died as a result of gunshot wounds to the hands, head and chest area.
The Fairfield County coroner said the injuries sustained in the crash were relatively minor and non-life-threatening.
Bynum is the suspected High Desert Rapist, who is believed to be responsible for a series of rapes in Los Angeles County from 2004 to 2007.
Bynum has not been linked to any rapes in Columbus, but DNA linked him to several rapes in Los Angeles.
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
As he deliberately crashed head-on into a semi he obviously wanted to die and did not care that he might take an innocent truck driver with him. It is not reasonable to second guess the police on this one.
The fact that he didn’t have a gun does not mean he didn’t have a deadly weapon. His actions proved that he was more than willing to use his car as one when he purposely crashed into a tanker truck.
No mention of how many bullets our brave police fired into this unarmed man.
I completely agree we just saved a great deal of money there. My only question is how did the high speed chase begin. I heard on the radio that it was due to the man spotting the FBI tailing him. If this is the case can the FBI not tail someone without being spotted?
good shooting CPD. You saved the taxpayors a lot of money.
Thanks for saving the taxpayers dollars. All agencies did their jobs.
There could have been more than one death from what he was trying to accomplish.
ohhhhh i can feel the debates starting already…
Advertisement