Man firing from pickup before fatal crash linked to homicide

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A suspect in an Ohio homicide is believed to have driven nearly two hours from the scene of the killing to Ohio’s capital city, where he began shooting at vehicles and passers-by before dying in a crash as fire engulfed his truck and loose ammunition discharged, according to police and media reports.

At least two vehicles were struck by gunfire in Columbus but no one was injured, said Jim Gilbert, deputy chief at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The Hancock County sheriff’s office said a homicide victim was discovered early Monday in McComb in Hancock County, a village about 108 miles (173.81 kilometers) northwest of Columbus.

Police said the suspect in that killing apparently drove to the west side of Columbus, where he fired at vehicles in a Kroger, shot at people at a nearby city park and then shot at others walking along a street.

The driver of the truck fled police, ran red lights and finally crashed after jumping a creek. Authorities say the driver, still in the truck, would not put down his gun and died as the fire inside spread and ammunition in the car began discharging.

Officers “attempted to negotiate repeatedly with the subject to put the weapon down,” Gilbert said.

Accident investigators with the Franklin County sheriff’s office “subsequently learned the same vehicle involved in the crash is also identified as the suspect vehicle involved in a possible homicide in Hancock County early Monday morning,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Hancock County sheriff’s office said “it is believed (the suspect) died in the crash, pending an autopsy.”