Officers in fatal shooting say they feared for their lives

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Two plainclothes officers who fatally shot a man last year who they said opened fire on them told investigators they feared for their lives, according to records released Monday.

Officers Jason Bare and Zachary Rosen also said in written statements taken in June 2016 that they shouted “police” before shooting Henry Green.

Both officers also said in oral interviews with investigators that they first identified themselves as police, although Rosen said he did not hear Bare yell “police.”

Columbus police say the 23-year-old Green, who was black, ignored commands to drop his gun during the shooting by the officers, who are both white.

Green’s family and a friend walking with him say Columbus police didn’t identify themselves when they began yelling at Green.

A grand jury last month declined to indict the officers in Green’s death. Marches following the shooting included “Black Lives Matter” protesters.

Witnesses gave conflicting accounts to detectives investigating the shooting, Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien said in announcing the grand jury’s decision on March 24.

Those included “how the shooting occurred, who fired the first shot, whether the officers announced their status as police officers,” O’Brien said.

Other discrepancies included whether police badges hanging on the officers’ necks were visible and whether officers acted in self-defense or shot Green “for no apparent lawful purpose,” O’Brien said.

The investigation found that Green fired six shots, Bare fired seven, and Rosen fired 15.