Marese Vince Collins, a 23-year-old male from Columbus, Ohio, tragically passed away on February 7, 2016. His death was the result of an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the early hours of that Sunday morning. Collins was reportedly threatening people with a gun when police responded to the 700 block of Whitethorne Avenue. After fleeing the scene in a dark-colored SUV, Collins was eventually detained by officers in the 500 block of Whitethorne Avenue.
Despite multiple commands to drop his weapon, Collins refused, leading officers to fire multiple shots, which resulted in his death.
The incident involved five officers: Peter Jacobs, Patrick Nance, David Gitlitz, April Redick, and Ben Leppla, all of whom had at least three years of experience with the Columbus Police Department. Following the shooting, an investigation was launched to determine the circumstances surrounding Collins' death. In August 2017, it was announced that all five officers involved had been cleared of any wrongdoing, as their actions were deemed to be within the department's use of firearms policy.
The death of Marese Collins sparked discussions and concerns about police use of force and the protocols followed during such incidents. Despite the thorough investigation, the incident left a lasting impact on the community and raised questions about law enforcement practices in Columbus.
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