NewsNational News

Actions

Ohio police kill man they say attacked people with machete

<p>A man armed with a machete attacked multiple people in an Ohio restaurant Thursday night before police shot and killed him.</p><p>According to authorities, the suspect walked into the Nazareth Mediterranean restaurant and deli in Columbus around 6:30 p.m. and started slashing people inside. Police say none of the occupants recognized him.</p><p>"Immediately began swinging a machete at customers and employees inside. There was no rhyme or reason as to who he was going after as soon as he walked in, according to some of the witnesses," <a href="http://nbc4i.com/2016/02/11/several-injured-in-stabbing-near-blendon-woods/" target="_blank">Sgt. Rich Weiner with the Columbus Police Department told WCMH</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/02/11/machete-attack.html" target="_blank">The Columbus Dispatch reports</a> the man then fled the restaurant and led police on a short car chase. He was shot by officers after he exited the vehicle wielding both the machete and a knife.</p><p><a href="http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2016/02/11/columbus-ohio-man-stabs-multiple-people-with-machette-in-northeast-columbus.html" target="_blank">At least four people were injured</a> in the attack and transported to a nearby hospital. Police say they have tentatively identified the suspect but have not revealed any further details about him.</p><p><i>This video includes clips from </i><i><a href="http://www.newsnet5.com/news/national/ohio-police-kill-man-they-say-attacked-people-with-machete" target="_blank">WEWS</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/four-seriously-injured-in-machete-attack-at-northeast-columbus-restaurant" target="_blank">WSYX</a></i><i>.</i></p>
Posted
and last updated

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police shot and killed a man who stormed into a central Ohio restaurant wielding a machete and randomly attacking people as they sat unsuspectingly at their dinner tables, authorities said.

Four people were injured in the brutal attack Thursday evening at Nazareth Restaurant and Deli, a Mediterranean restaurant in Columbus. The victims were taken to an area hospital and were expected to recover.

"There was no rhyme or reason as to who he was going after," said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner.

Police said the man walked into the restaurant, had a conversation with an employee and then left. He returned about a half hour later. That's when police said he approached a man and a woman who were sitting just inside the door at a booth and started the attack.

Police said employees and patrons tried to get the man to stop.

"Some of the patrons there started throwing chairs at him just trying to get him out of there," Weiner said.

The man eventually fled the scene in a white car and led police on a short chase. Officers forced the man off the road a few miles away and when he got out of his car police said they tried unsuccessfully to use a stun gun on him.

Weiner said, "At that point he had a machete and another knife in his hand and he lunged across the hood at the officers."

That's when police said an officer shot and killed the man. They did not immediately release his name.

It remained unclear what sparked the attacks.

"Right now there's nothing that leads us to believe that this is anything but a random attack," said Weiner.