Incident Overview
A tense standoff in West Columbus ended in tragedy when a suspect, 40-year-old Benjamin Wheeler, was shot and killed by police after he stabbed three officers with an edged weapon. The incident occurred on Cherry Berry Drive last Thursday and involved hours of negotiations by Columbus SWAT and police officers.
Despite extensive efforts to peacefully resolve the situation, the standoff escalated, resulting in the suspect’s death and injuries to four officers.
Initial Response and Suspect Background
The sequence of events began with a 911 call made by a man who reported that his stepson, Benjamin Wheeler, was threatening him. Columbus police officers arrived at the scene shortly after 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival, the couple informed the officers that Wheeler had several mental health conditions and had not been taking his medication for an extended period.
When asked how long Wheeler had been off his medication, the couple indicated it had been over 16 months, during which time his condition had worsened.
During their initial interaction, officers discussed with the couple the possibility of going to court to have Wheeler mandated to seek treatment at a mental health facility. As the conversation continued, Wheeler appeared by the front door and engaged in dialogue with the officers. When asked if he was currently taking his medication, Wheeler replied that his doctor had taken him off it.
Escalation of the Situation
The situation took a critical turn when officers inquired if Wheeler was armed. Wheeler initially denied having any weapons but then began to raise his voice, ultimately admitting that he was armed. Wheeler then retreated inside the home, refusing multiple requests from the officers to step outside.
As the situation escalated, officers called for additional cruisers and attempted to communicate with Wheeler using the cruiser’s loudspeaker. During this time, officers also learned that there was a nonviolent felony warrant out for Wheeler. SWAT units were dispatched to the scene, and negotiators attempted to talk Wheeler out of the home for over an hour.
SWAT Involvement and Final Confrontation
At approximately 7:30 p.m., SWAT officers approached the front door, realizing that the situation had escalated further. As they surrounded the front door, Wheeler threw an edged weapon at one of the officers, striking him. Despite the officer’s injury, police continued their attempts to subdue Wheeler, who had retreated further into the home.
The situation continued to deteriorate as officers attempted to enter the home. Police used a drone to locate Wheeler inside, where they observed him throwing furniture at the officers. Despite attempts to tase Wheeler, the situation turned more violent, and at least one officer discharged their firearm. During this confrontation, two more officers were stabbed by Wheeler.
Wheeler then fled to the basement, and officers called for a drone or robot to locate him. Despite repeated attempts to get Wheeler to surrender, he refused to come out. After nearly five hours of escalating tension and failed negotiations, Wheeler was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:45 p.m.
Aftermath and Investigation
All officers injured during the incident were treated at a local hospital and released. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now leading the investigation into the incident. Columbus police have stated that since 2021, SWAT has responded to 129 hostage and barricade situations, with only one other incident resulting in deadly force.
This tragic event marks the second time in over a year that Columbus SWAT officers have shot and killed a suspect while serving a warrant.
This standoff highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with individuals who have mental health issues, especially when those individuals are not receiving necessary treatment. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement to resolve the situation peacefully, the escalation of violence led to a tragic outcome, raising questions about the best approaches to handling such complex and dangerous situations.
The ongoing investigation will likely provide further insights into the decisions made during the standoff and whether any changes in protocol might be necessary to prevent similar outcomes in the future.
