A Franklin County Sheriff's deputy has shot a 16-year-old boy Joseph Haynes to death during an afternoon court hearing on Wednesday, 17th January.
A sheriff's office's chief investigator Rick Minerd said that the deputy shot in victim's abdomen after a fight broke out which involved the teenager, his family, and the officer.
Minerd later told Haynes was shot once in the abdomen during the fight which was initiated as soon as the early afternoon hearing concluded in a domestic relations courtroom in Columbus. He also disclosed that the boy died about half an hour later at a nearby downtown hospital. Minerd said,
At some point, as the hearing was concluding, there was an altercation that ensued involving the deputy and some of the family members.
Minerd didn't disclose the deputy's name saying he didn't identify him. He added that the deputy was also injured and being treated at a hospital but wasn't shot. Later, Minerd extended condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the sheriff's office where he said
On behalf of Sheriff Baldwin and our office, we want to extend our condolences to the Haynes family and wish the officer who was involved a speedy recovery
The Sheriff's Office has been continuing their investigation into the shooting in an accompany with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation.