Three high-profile shootings by Columbus law enforcement to be reviewed by prosecutor's office

Demonstrators descend on the Ohio Union on a cold Wednesday afternoon to protest the shooting death of 16-year-old Ma’Kiah Bryant, April 21, 2021. Tom Hanks/Staff

By Tom Hanks

Three high-profile officer-involved shooting deaths, including the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Ma’Kiah Bryant, have been referred to Franklin County Prosecutor G. Gary Tyack, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced in a Wednesday morning press conference.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has referred the investigation into Bryant’s death – as well as the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Andrew Teague – to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for further review and possible criminal charges.

Teague was killed in a confrontation on the I-270 outerbelt on March 8.

Columbus Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said that Officer John Kifer and Deputy Michael Severance fired their weapons at Teague, who was the subject of a police dragnet for felonious assault and had been chased that night.

The chase was called off, per protocol, but a police helicopter continued the pursuit – as he was a wrong-way driver.

Yost called for patience from the public with the investigations.

“I urge you to give them time to make a fair, just and complete decision,” he said.

Bryant was killed on April 20 on the city’s southeast side, at a foster home where she and one of her siblings had been living.

Bryant died at Mount Carmel East Hospital after Officer Nicholas Reardon arrived and saw Bryant brandishing a knife – which family, friends and witnesses say was for self-defense. Reardon fired four shots, killing Bryant.

Hundreds of Ohio State students marched from the Ohio Union to the Statehouse in protest of the shooting, which also renewed calls in the campus community for Ohio State to sever ties with Columbus Police.

Yost’s office said that BCI agents have interviewed 15 civilians and three police officers, have processed the scene for any potential evidence – including photographing, searching, measuring, documenting and collecting evidence, analyzing seven items in the laboratory, including firearms, bullet casings and projectiles as well as reviewing all audio communications such as 911 calls, dispatch records and cellphone records.

Yost’s office is also investigating the shooting of 27-year-old Miles Jackson, who was killed in a shootout with police at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville.

Jackson was in the emergency room as officers prepared to search him as they made an arrest over outstanding warrants.

Body camera video showed Jackson struggling with the officers, as he and the two officers fell to the floor. While one officer attempted to disarm Jackson, another fired his stun gun. Jackson then fired at the officers.

Yost’s office says the investigations can take up to several weeks, or even longer, before any further action is announced.