Holly MatkinColumbus, OH – An armed suspect who declared he wanted to “shoot it out with police” over the weekend told officers he “had a fun time” after they shot him during an intense gun battle in the North Linden neighborhood (video below).
The series of events leading up to the encounter between 22-year-old Rodriguez Fitzgerald and Columbus police began at approximately 12 p.m. on April 2, when a woman called 911 to report her ex-boyfriend tried to assault her one day earlier, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
The woman said Fitzgerald threatened her the next day.
She said she also knew he had multiple warrants out for his arrest and that he was illegally carrying a Glock firearm capable of automatic gunfire, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Columbus police began digging into Fitzgerald and discovered he was wanted for discharging a firearm into a residence, felonious assault, and multiple other charges.
They also learned from other individuals that Fitzgerald had said he wanted to “shoot it out with police,” according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The Columbus Division of Police (CDP) contacted a SWAT team for assistance and they all headed over to Fitzgerald’s residence in the 2900-block of Azelda Street.
Bodycam footage showed officers knocking on the door of the residence and announcing themselves.
They also told Rodriguez he had outstanding warrants and that he was under arrest.
A woman inside the home began screaming that she was scared as police tried to ask her about where the suspect was located, the video showed.
CDP Officer Rodney Mayberry was behind a fence on the backside of the home when Fitzgerald opened fire on him in an alley, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Radio traffic revealed the suspect hopped over a fence and kept shooting at Officer Mayberry as the veteran officer returned fire.
“You got me, you got me,” Fitzgerald told the officer about 90 seconds after the shootout began.
The wounded suspect then tossed his gun over the fence and was taken into custody, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
“I had fun with your [expletive expletive]!” Fitzgerald hollered at Officer Mayberry as he was being placed into handcuffs.
The suspect was transported to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in critical condition, WSYX reported.
He was later upgraded to stable condition and is expected to survive.
More than 30 rounds were fired during the shootout, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
No officers were struck by gunfire during the incident, but one patrol car was hit, WSYX reported.
“There’s nobody out here that wanted this to occur,” CDP Sergeant Joe Albert said. “We can’t control when somebody comes out of a residence and shoots at our personnel. When that happens, our personnel are forced to defend themselves and defend the lives of everybody around here.”
Officer Mayberry, a 25-year veteran of the department, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as per policy, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Police said Fitzgerald will be charged with felonious assault on a peace officer in connection with the incident.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is handling the ongoing investigation.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
Sandy Malone