Rafael Warfield : “Columbus police face third fatal shooting in a week”

For the third time in less than a week, an armed man tragically lost his life during an intense incident early Thursday morning that resulted in gunfire from Columbus police officers on the Southeast Side of the city.

The Disturbing Incident

On Friday afternoon, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant revealed details of the incident that occurred around 4 a.m. on Thursday. A distressed female called 911, reporting that her uncle, now identified as 21-year-old Rafael Warfield, was threatening to harm himself and those around him. She also mentioned that he was behaving erratically and was in possession of a firearm.

Four officers swiftly responded to the call, arriving at the apartment in the 6800 block of Georges Creek Drive off Gender Road on the Southeast Side at 4:07 a.m.

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During the confrontation, Warfield opened fire on the officers, prompting them to return fire, ultimately resulting in his death.

Police Response

Body camera footage showcased during the press conference depicted the intense nature of the encounter. Officers were seen taking cover behind a vehicle as they tried to persuade Warfield to come out of the apartment. At one point, Warfield discharged at least one shot, although it was unclear whether it was aimed at the officers or himself. The responding officer with a rifle reacted by firing between eight and ten shots.

When questioned about the target of Warfield’s shots, Chief Bryant deferred to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which will be conducting a thorough review of the incident, as is customary in any law enforcement officer-involved shooting within Columbus.

Chief Bryant disclosed that the four officers involved had varying levels of experience, with one officer having five years of service with the Columbus Division of Police, while the other three had between one and two years of experience.

Information Officer Jennifer Watson stated that the department intends to release the body camera footage by the following morning.

Clarification on Initial Reports

Initially, the Columbus Division of Police issued a statement early Thursday morning indicating that Warfield had succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capitol City Lodge No. 9, later revealed that officers had informed him that Warfield, who seemed intoxicated and was making threats, had fired at least one round at them.

Subsequently, the police division retracted their initial statement and acknowledged that the circumstances surrounding Warfield’s death would be thoroughly investigated by Ohio BCI.

Chief Bryant addressed the confusion surrounding the reports, attributing it to the rush to disseminate information to the media. She emphasized that the department promptly issued a retraction upon realizing the error.

Recent Police Incidents

The recent events have been particularly challenging for the Columbus police force. Just a few days prior, on May 11, officers responded to a domestic violence incident in which shots were fired on the East Side of the city. The encounter resulted in the tragic deaths of Nicole Pleasant and Corey Roach.

The following day, on May 12, Ali Hamsa Yusuf, a contract security guard trainee, was fatally shot by law enforcement after he fired at a Columbus police officer during a confrontation on the West Side of the city.

These incidents have put a spotlight on the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the complexities of policing in today’s society.

For further updates on this developing story, stay tuned for more information.

For any inquiries, please contact smeighan@dispatch.com.

Follow @ShahidMeighan for the latest updates.

This article was originally published on The Columbus Dispatch: Rafale Warfield fired a shot, then Columbus police shot at him.