A 19-year-old Columbus man was sentenced to 36 to 40 years in prison after being convicted of shooting at four Columbus police officers, with 14 years of mandatory prison time. Tamari Stroughter will also receive 657 days of jail credit toward that sentence.
According to WSYX, Stroughter was arrested as a juvenile after being accused of shooting at the four officers following a fight with his girlfriend. The outlet reports he faced 20 charges in total, including aggravated robbery, felonious assault, robbery, receiving stolen property, weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence.
The shooting itself dates to January 9, 2025, when, as reported by WCMH/NBC4, Stroughter allegedly fired a rifle at officers before running from the scene. His case was later transferred from juvenile court to adult court, per 10TV, which reported he ultimately received 20 counts connected to three separate incidents.
Robbery Charges Stretch Back to 2024
Those 20 counts weren't limited to the police shooting. 10TV's reporting indicates Stroughter was also accused in connection with armed robberies in July and August 2024, incidents that were folded into the broader indictment alongside the shooting case.
The same outlet's coverage notes that Stroughter had previously been convicted as a minor in 2020 for robbery, pointing to a pattern of alleged firearm and robbery-related conduct that predates the January 2025 shooting by several years.
Attorney Points to Childhood Instability
In court, Stroughter's attorney, Larry Thomas, said his client has dealt with behavioral and mental health issues since childhood. Thomas told the court Stroughter was placed in a foster home at age 11 and has been in and out of foster homes since then, the same source reports.
Thomas also said Stroughter had spent time in different behavioral institutions and received mental health counseling for bipolar anxiety and PTSD, according to the station's report. Stroughter became emotional upon learning he would face up to four decades in prison, and he apologized to the victims, his family, loved ones, and the officers.
Judge Weighs Custody Behavior Against Future Release
The judge cited Stroughter's behavior while in custody as part of the sentencing discussion, stating that he had spit on guards and told officers to get better aim and upgrade their bullets, the article notes. That conduct featured directly in the judge's remarks about Stroughter's path forward.
Despite that, the judge also discussed the possibility of judicial release after 18 years, with the outcome depending on Stroughter's behavior in prison. Under the sentence handed down, Stroughter has a 14-year mandatory prison term.
