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Grand jury declines to indict Whitehall police officers in fatal April shooting

A Whitehall police officer shines a light on Santiago Elias Alfaro Diaz, 36, moments before shooting and killing the man.
Provided by Whitehall Police Department
Whitehall police shot and killed 36-year-old Santiago Elias Alfaro Diaz on April 19, 2024 just after 2 a.m.

A Franklin County grand jury this week declined to indict Whitehall police officers who shot and killed 36-year-old Santiago Munoz of Columbus.

On April 19, Whitehall officers responded to a report of gunshots near East Main Street and South Hamilton Road near Roses Discount Store.

Officers found two men in a vehicle in a parking lot and saw a gun on the floor of the back seat.

Body camera footage released following the incident, showed the two officers spoke with the two men in Spanish. The officers asked them if they had pistols or drugs in the car. The two men ate McDonald's chicken nuggets and French fries as they talked to the officers in the two-minute video.

The officers told the two men in Spanish and English to get out of the vehicle and put their hands up. The driver exited but Munoz did not.

Police said Munoz reached for the gun. Both officers fired at Munoz, who died after he was shot in the head.