Two people injured during shootings last year in the Short North are suing the City of Columbus, the police department and several officers for millions of dollars in damages.
Attorney W. Jeffrey Moore represents Jalen Bradley and his sister Ja-Dawn Bradley.
Moore says on the night of the shooting his clients were out with friends when another group arrived and began firing their weapons. Jalen, who was legally armed with a gun, returned fire. As the group fled, police arrived.
"Then the police went behind a truck, reloaded and shot off another 10 or 11 into my client's body," Moore told WOSU. "And again when they were posing no harm to the police."
Jalen Bradley was paralyzed, and Ja-Dawn Bradley was hit by several bullets.
The suit claims the police officers were never shot at, and "yet shot with zeal at the Plaintiffs who were doing nothing more than fleeing for their lives."
The suit also said police ignored the safety of pedestrians, vehicles and patrons of the businesses in the area.
Columbus police officers, Austin Earle, William Phillips, Ian Mansberger, Jacob Velas and Carl Harmon are named in the lawsuit, along with six unidentified officers.
Moore said the details of the police report and investigation were difficult to obtain.
On Monday, the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office announced it would not file any charges against the officers. It came on the day marking the one-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in the case.
In an emailed statement, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein's office said that it "takes seriously all use of force cases, especially those that involve tragic injuries or loss of life." But it said it has not been served with the suit yet and had no further comment on it.
