Marion County authorities identify suspect killed during La Rue drug raid

Andrew Carter, Marion Star
·2 min read
The Ohio Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in the Marion County village of La Rue. Local law enforcement officers shot and killed a man suspected of drug trafficking who opened fire on them after they executed a search warrant at his residence.
The Ohio Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in the Marion County village of La Rue. Local law enforcement officers shot and killed a man suspected of drug trafficking who opened fire on them after they executed a search warrant at his residence.

Marion County authorities have released the identity of the man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting during the raid of a La Rue residence on Tuesday morning.

A joint press release issued Wednesday afternoon by the Marion Police Department and Marion County Sheriff's Office identifies the deceased individual as Travis W. Hellinger, age 38, La Rue. His home address is listed as the residence in the 200 block of North Swain Avenue where officers from the Marion County Special Response Team executed a search warrant on Tuesday morning.

According to a press release issued by the MARMET Drug Task Force, the officer-involved shooting occurred as members of the Marion County Special Response Team were executing a search warrant just after 5 a.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 200 block of North Swain Avenue in the village of La Rue where they believed Hellinger, who was suspected of trafficking in methamphetamine in Marion County, lived.

Authorities say Hellinger was allegedly armed with three semiautomatic handguns when he fled the house on foot and ran towards railroad tracks located on North Section Street in La Rue.

According to the press release, Hellinger was "screaming at police" as he walked along the railroad tracks. Officers then "pleaded with (Hellinger) to drop his guns and give himself up peacefully." A K-9 was deployed in an attempt "to end the standoff without gunfire," officials said.

However, officials said Hellinger then began shooting at the K-9 and in the direction of law enforcement officers. Officers then returned fire and struck the suspect.

Law enforcement officers rendered first aid to the suspect at the scene, but Hellinger later died after being transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital.

Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles said no law enforcement officers were injured.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was called to the scene and is now in charge of the investigation after being requested to do so by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, a spokesman for Ohio BCI said Tuesday. According to the MARMET press release, law enforcement officers were wearing body cameras and that footage has been turned over to Ohio BCI.

The BCI spokesman said the "investigation is active and ongoing." He said no further information about the investigation is available at this time.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Co. authorities identify suspect killed during La Rue drug raid