Billy G. Heeter, 52, of Columbus, Ohio, died on November 21, 2018, after an officer-involved shooting in the Franklinton neighborhood. Family members had called police expressing concern for Heeter’s well-being; officers found him inside his home reportedly distraught and armed. During the encounter Heeter produced a gun and officers fired multiple shots. Heeter was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.

Officer Kenneth Bowers, a 21-year veteran of the Columbus Police Division, was among the officers involved. The division’s Critical Incident Response Team investigated, and the matter was presented to a Franklin County grand jury under the prosecutor’s policy. Investigators concluded the officers responded to an immediate threat and no criminal charges were filed; the death resulted from the officer-involved shooting. Heeter’s family said they had called hoping he would be helped and later voiced grief and frustration, and the case prompted discussion about mental health response and crisis intervention training for police.

If anyone knew Billy Heeter or has information about what happened that night, please share what you know.