A Franklin County grand jury on Thursday declined to return an indictment against Columbus police officers who shot and killed 26-year-old Colin Jennings earlier this year while Jennings was having an apparent mental health crisis.
On Feb. 22, officers were dispatched to the Creekside Place Apartments on North Nelson Road on the East Side. Jennings' boyfriend called police saying that Jennings was threatening to harm both himself and the boyfriend.
When officers arrived, Jennings confronted them with a knife. Officers told him to put it down, but Jennings moved toward them with his knife over his head saying, "shoot me," and "I want to die."
One officer tried to use a Taser while the other fired three shots at Jennings, who was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck. He died a short time later.
The Community Housing Network owns Creekside Place through a limited liability company. The organization helps to find affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorders.