Hashim Hanif Ibn Abdul-Rasheed, a 41-year-old African American male from Columbus, OH, died on January 7, 2015. He was shot and killed by airport police officers at Port Columbus International Airport after he allegedly lunged at an officer with a knife. The incident began when airport surveillance officers noticed a vehicle parked in a restricted area of the departures level of the airport.
Abdul-Rasheed was attempting to purchase a Southwest Airlines ticket with fraudulent female identification.
Abdul-Rasheed had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He had been under court-ordered psychiatric care since 1999, following an incident where he shot his mother and stole her car. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a psychiatric facility. His commitment ended in December 2012, and he was living independently at the time of his death.
The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Officer Dan Harper, Officer Hussein Hartman, and Officer Ryan Ward. The incident remains under investigation, and authorities are reviewing surveillance footage of the incident. Abdul-Rasheed's wife told police that he had not been taking his medication and had been exhibiting erratic behavior prior to the incident.
The case brought attention to the challenges faced by airport police officers and the importance of mental health care for individuals with serious mental illnesses. Abdul-Rasheed's family was left trying to gather information and understand what happened in the moments leading up to his death.
