Columbus Police Officers Indicted for Shooting After Car Backfire During Traffic Stop

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On February 7, 2024, Columbus police officers Kenneth Rammage and Xavier Perez were indicted by a grand jury on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery following the shooting of Jermaine Hernandez during a traffic stop on Manchester Expressway. Hernandez, who was driving a BMW and allegedly speeding, was shot after his car backfired, creating a noise that the officers mistook for gunfire; he survived the incident after being hospitalized. The Columbus Police Department has placed both officers on administrative leave and will conduct an internal investigation while acknowledging the grand jury's decision.