An Urbana police officer shot a 23-year-old man Friday during a disturbance call after officers say he advanced on them with a knife and ignored commands to stop. The man was treated at the scene, taken to Urbana Mercy Hospital, then later booked on a felonious assault charge. The shooting has triggered both a state-level criminal investigation and an internal administrative review.
Officers were called to a disturbance in the 200 block of West Church Street, Police Chief Josh Jacobs told reporters. The man was identified as 23-year-old Justin L. Beabout and, according to police, he was holding a knife when officers arrived. No other officers fired their weapons, and the officer who did has not been publicly identified, according to the Springfield News-Sun.
State probe underway
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called in to handle the shooting inquiry. BCI functions as the state's investigative and forensic partner for officer-involved critical incidents and gathers evidence that can be submitted to prosecutors, according to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
What police say
Chief Jacobs told investigators that Beabout "would not listen to officers' commands" and that the officer opened fire after the suspect allegedly ignored multiple orders, the Springfield News-Sun reported. Under department policy, the officer involved is now on paid administrative leave while the investigation plays out.
Charges and next steps
After receiving medical treatment, Beabout was released from the hospital, booked on a felonious assault charge, and taken to the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg. The jail maintains a public inmate roster and lists its address online at the Tri-County Regional Jail website. Investigators say they are reviewing body-worn camera footage along with other evidence as the case moves forward.
Officials say additional details will be made public when appropriate. The investigation remains active and is being handled by BCI in coordination with local authorities.
