Columbus Police say SWAT officers killed a 17-year-old boy suspected of murder Thursday after he opened fire on them during an attempted arrest.Joseph Jewell was wanted for this week’s murder of another 17-year-old, Enrique Forney, Jr. Police say they found Forney shot in an apartment complex parking lot near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and East Dublin-Granville Road.
On Thursday, police descended on an East Dublin-Granville Road hotel to arrest Jewell. Sgt. James Fuqua said Jewell opened fire on officers after they knocked on a room door and announced themselves,
“So the SWAT officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect that opened the door. After the exchange of gun fire, they were able to take the suspect into custody,” Fuqua said at the scene.
Fuqua said officers administered first aid and medics transported Jewell to Riverside Methodist Hospital. He died about two hours later.
Fuqua defended the actions of police.
“I can’t stress enough how well the SWAT officers performed under pressure,” Fuqua said.
