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Columbus Police Name Officer Involved In Shooting

Columbus police have released the name of the officer who fatally shot a man suspected of rapes in the Linden area. Officer Ronald Moss who has been with the police for 27 years was investigating a series of rapes with the SWAT team when the shooting occured early Wednesday morning.

Columbus Police say they have been investigating a series of rapes in the Linden area for about three weeks. Columbus Division of Police spokesman Sergeant Rich Weiner says the suspect commited most of the crimes in abandoned Linden homes.

"He performed violent acts when committing the assaults. And he committed most but not all of them against prostitutes and women from escort services." Says Sargeant Weiner.

Weiner says the Sexual Assault Unit and SWAT team set up surveillance on Gennesee Avenue where an assault took place two days earlier. Weiner says suspect Larry Martin, arrived at an abandoned house expecting to meet an escort. He says Martin fit a description of the rape suspect given by victims in previous cases. Weiner says when police tried to take Martin into custody, he tried to flee the scene.

"He immediately began fighting with the officers in the back at which point he pulled a weapon-- he pulled a handgun. One of the officers defended himself and his partner and shot the suspect. Unfortunately the suspect was pronounced at the scene." Says Weiner.

Martin was never charged and there was not a warrant for his arrest. Weiner says an investigation into whether Martin was the alleged rapist is pending.

Capital City Fraternal Order of Police President Jim Gilbert says the officer's actions were justified.

"We are sorry that the individual died but ultimately his actions resulted in his own death. Our officers actions we feel were proper and fit due to the circumstances of the suspect being armed." Says Gilbert.

Gilbert adds the officers were not in uniform, but announced their identity. According to the Columbus Police there have been 11 police-related shootings this year. Alaina Busch WOSU News.