Man shot by Columbus police officer during mental health, domestic violence call

Authorities identified the man who was shot by an officer with the Columbus Division of Police inside a Hilltop apartment Wednesday night.

Just before 10:50 p.m., officers were called to the 1600 block of Sullivant Avenue after receiving a report of a person experiencing a mental health crisis and having assaulted two people.

Columbus police said arriving officers determined that the incident involved domestic violence and that the person inside the apartment needed to be arrested.

“In the immediate details of the run, the caller said this individual had already assaulted two people. Once that happens, the alternative response goes away because we have a domestic violence situation,” said Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert.

Police said officers contacted a man who refused to come outside after being asked several times and remained inside the apartment with several other people. Police identified the man on Thursday as identified as 36-year-old Michael Lamont Frierson.

After failed attempts, police said officers forced entry into the apartment by trying to kick the door open to take him into custody.

As officers started to enter the apartment, police said Frierson struck one of the officers in the face with a "potential weapon" in his hand. Another officer fired their weapon several times, striking Frierson at least once. Police began rendering aid to the man until medics arrived.

Investigators found three "edged weapons" at the scene, including a knife, a pair of scissors and a fork.

Frierson is in police custody at the hospital due to having felony warrants for his arrest. Charges of domestic violence and felonious assault against a peace officer will be filed against Frierson, police said. He is reportedly in "critical but stable" condition at Grant Medical Center.

Citing Marsy's Law, police are not naming the officer who shot Frierson, but say he has been with the department for four years.

No officers or anyone else in the apartment were injured.