28
November
2016
|
14:16 PM
America/New_York

Officials recap details of campus incident

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Officials from The Ohio State University announced updates today about the incident this morning in which several community members were injured and the suspect, an Ohio State student, was killed. The law enforcement investigation is still active and ongoing.

The first responder, Ohio State University Police Officer Alan Horujko, 28, shot and killed suspect Abdul Razak Ali Artan at 9:53 a.m. 

According to University Police, Horujko reported an emergency to dispatch at 9:52 a.m. It was later confirmed that the car, driven by Artan, went onto a sidewalk and struck multiple pedestrians near the corner of West 19th Avenue and College Road on the Columbus campus. Within seconds, Horujko reported an officer in trouble as the suspect exited his car with a large knife and began stabbing individuals.

The suspect did not comply with Horujko and the officer shot and killed the suspect at 9:53 a.m.

Ohio State’s Department of Public Safety issued the first Buckeye Alert emergency notification at 9:54 a.m., advising campus community members to shelter in place. Multiple emergency notifications followed as law enforcement officers from city, county and state agencies and the FBI joined University Police in sweeping the area to ensure there was no further threat. The shelter-in-place command was lifted at approximately 11:30 a.m., though law enforcement officers continued to investigate throughout the day.

Consistent with standard protocol for police-involved shootings, the Columbus Division of Police has taken the lead on the police investigation and Horujko has been placed on administrative leave.

Classes were canceled on the Columbus campus Monday, but will resume a normal schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

During a press conference Monday evening, Police Chief Craig Stone said the university’s camera system allowed police to look back at surveillance video to track the suspect’s whereabouts on campus before the incident occurred. The video indicated that Artan was alone in his car.

Dr. Andrew Thomas, chief medical officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, announced that six victims were treated for injuries at Wexner Medical Center. Two suffered stabbing injuries, three were struck by the car and one suffered lacerations. Among those treated at Ohio State, Thomas reported that the victims included one faculty member, two graduate students, one undergraduate and one staff member; the affiliation of the sixth individual is not known.

Two victims taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital had been struck by the car. Three individuals were treated at Grant Medical Center, two with lacerations and one with orthopedic injuries.

President Michael V. Drake visited with several injured victims today.

“We wish those injured a speedy and complete recovery; and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families,” he said in a message to students, faculty and staff. “Days such as these test our spirit as Buckeyes — but together we remain unified in the face of adversity.” Drake encouraged community members to access university resources for counseling and other assistance, and also advised Buckeyes to let their loved ones know that they are unharmed. His full message is here.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Gov. John Kasich and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty attended the 4 p.m. news conference at Ross Heart Hospital to express their support for the university and concern for the victims.

As additional information becomes available, it will be posted at emergency.osu.edu.