Columbus police release dashcam, bodycam video leading up to fatal shooting of Noel Hernandez

0:00 - Dashcam
6:56 - Bodycam 1
17:05 - Bodycam 2
25:34 - Bodycam 3
26:58 - Bodycam 4
31:35 - Bodycam 5
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The Columbus Division of Police released video on Wednesday showing the moment five officers fatally shot a man charging at them with a make-shift knife.

The shooting happened late Monday night on the city’s southwest side. According to Police Chief Elaine Bryant, police received 911 calls of a man, later identified as 35-year-old Noel Hernandez, banging on vehicles and threatening people with a knife in the area of Georgesville and Clime roads.

Arriving officers found the man just before 11:30 p.m., with his vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. The officers told Hernandez to put his hands up in English and Spanish, but he got into his car and drove away.

Officers followed Hernandez down Georgesville Road. Shortly after turning onto Sullivant Avenue, Hernandez got out of his vehicle. Officers again told him, in English and Spanish, to show them his hands and drop the weapon. Dashcam video appears to show Hernandez banging on either the roof or the hood of his car. He then briefly walked toward officers but got back into his car and drove away.

Hernandez got out of his vehicle a second time, but only for a few moments before getting back in and driving away.

For a third time, Hernandez got out of his vehicle at the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Industrial Mile Road. Hernandez can be seen walking away from officers, who were telling him to show them his hands and get on the ground.

Bryant said one of the officers deployed his Taser at Hernandez twice, but it was unsuccessful. Body-worn camera video shows Hernandez turn around, raise his arms up, and began walking toward the officers. The officers can be heard telling Hernandez to stop. Hernandez seemingly started running toward the officers with the weapon in his hand, and five officers fired at him.

According to Bryant, the officers rendered aid to Hernandez until medics took him to Doctors Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The five officers are on administrative assignment, and they will go through a psych evaluation. Bryant does not believe the officers violated any policies.

Bryant described the weapon that Hernandez was using as a “make-shift knife or a piece of metal” that had two hooks on it.

Earlier in the day, Bryant said a neighbor called for a well-being check on Hernandez. The officers who responded, who are not the same officers who later fatally shot him, spoke with the neighbor and Hernandez. No threats were being made, and Hernandez said he was tired. Bryant said the officers had no legal standing to enter the home, and Hernandez wouldn't allow them.