Whitehall, Ohio Tragedy: Columbus Police Officer Injures 4-year-old While Shooting At Dog

#1

A Columbus police officer accidentally wounded a 4-year-old girl in Whitehall when he fired at a charging dog, police said.

A neighbor and the girl's uncle identified her as Ava Ellis, who was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital, where police said she was in stable condition.

#2

The officer was at a house in the 4100 block of Chandler Drive investigating a hit-and-run case about 3:10 p.m., Columbus police spokeswoman Denise Alex-Bouzounis said.

As the officer was walking from the home to his patrol car, a woman a few houses away called out to him, saying her sister and the girl's mother, Andrea Ellis, had cut herself.

#3

The officer was at the doorway when a dog charged at him, Alex-Bouzounis said.

The officer fired once, missing the animal but striking the girl in the right leg. It was unclear whether the girl was hit directly or by a ricochet. The officer has not been identified.

#4

Andrea Ellis was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center for treatment of the cut.

Gary Parsley II said the officer was following up with him about Parsley's being struck by a car a couple weeks ago. When the girl's aunt called out to the officer, the officer walked over and Parsley returned to his house, when he heard a shot.

#5

Neighbors say the officer walked back to his patrol car after the shooting.

"He seemed a little disoriented, like he was really bothered," said Norman Jones, who called the police after hearing the shot. Columbus and Whitehall police arrived at the scene shortly afterward.

#6

Neighbors say Ellis came out of the house saying her daughter had been shot.

The officer was not injured.

#7

Neighbor Carrie Britton said the family has two dogs and that they were on shock collars and couldn't get out of the house.

#8

Two dogs were being held in the back of the house after the shooting, according to police.

#9

Police and neighbors gave conflicting information about how many other children were in the house at the time of the shooting, but nobody beside the girl was wounded by a bullet.