Four juveniles were apprehended yesterday evening after their fleeting escape ended in a crash of a stolen vehicle near Ohio's Statehouse. According to a report by WBNS News, the police responded to reports of an armed robbery and carjacking at the intersection of East Main Street and Lilley Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Not long after, Columbus officers, with the assistance of a helicopter unit, spotted the vehicle and began a pursuit.
The situation escalated, with the stolen vehicle weaving through traffic at a high speed, eluding multiple attempts by the police to bring it to a halt. Sgt. James Fuqua, a spokesperson for the Columbus Police Department, indicated that officers had to back off once the vehicle raced into the downtown area. "The vehicle spun out of control and came to a rest after hitting a parked car approximately 100 feet from the initial crash," Fuqua explained, as captured by WBNS News.
As reported by NBC4i News, the aftermath of the high-speed chase culminated in a collision at East Broad Street and 3rd Street near the Statehouse. The four juveniles, two 14 and two 15-year-old boys, abandoned the wrecked car before being detained. "And like I said, the impact was so aggressive that the suspect vehicle continued to go past the intersection a good 100 feet away, so at this point, like I said, all four suspects are in custody," were Fuqua's words as described by NBC4i News.
The suspects received medical attention at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a precautionary measure following the incident that, thankfully, did not result in serious injuries. While the immediate danger to the public ceased with the apprehension of the suspects, the implications of the event linger, prompting an ongoing investigation by law enforcement. In a statement obtained by ABC6 News, Sgt. James Fuqua addressed the start of the incident, "with a carjacking at gunpoint on East Main Street near Lilley Avenue."
