A suspect who exchanged gunfire with police near the Ohio State University campus on Sunday morning was found dead about five hours later, ending a barricade situation, police said Sunday afternoon.
The suspect, identified by police as Asante Taaj Omar Miller, was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m., police said. The cause of death has not yet been released. Miller’s age and place of residence were not disclosed.
The incident began at 8 a.m. when officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Worthington Street for a report of a burglary. According to a news release, police were told the suspect was inside the home with a firearm. When officers arrived, the suspect fled Worthington Street but was found nearby.
“Officers verbally ordered the suspect to drop his weapon multiple times. The suspect refused to drop his weapon, at which point officers fired their weapons,” the press release said. The suspect then broke into another residence in the 100 block of West Eighth Avenue.
While searching the house, officers found the suspect hiding in a room, after which more shots were fired, police said.
Police and SWAT units surrounded the house and used drones inside and outside the house as part of the investigation. The suspect was later found dead inside the house. It is not clear whether he died from gunfire from police officers.
According to police, no officers were injured.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting under Columbus policy.
@BizMarkWilliams
This article originally appeared in the Columbus Dispatch: Asante Taaj Omar Miller found dead after police shooting in Columbus
