Police seek suspect who struck man on scooter with vehicle in Kroger parking lot

Bethany Bruner, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the assault of a man using a motorized scooter in a parking lot.

According to Columbus police, officers were called around 1:40 p.m. on April 16 to the Kroger located at 3633 S. High St., on the city's Far South Side, for a report of shots being fired.

Officers found a man, identified as 68-year-old Terry Childs, laying in the parking lot. Childs told officers he fired his gun at a vehicle that had tried to run him over. Childs was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A man in this vehicle is believed to have struck a man in a motorized scooter with his vehicle. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information.
A man in this vehicle is believed to have struck a man in a motorized scooter with his vehicle. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information.

Childs told officers that he had come out of the Kroger on a motorized scooter and the suspect called Childs a "derogatory name." As Childs continued toward the bus stop, he told officers the vehicle then drove toward him and stopped.

Police said Childs told them the suspect got out of the vehicle with a "large, Bowie-style knife" and Childs, who has a valid license for carrying a concealed weapon, pulled a firearm. The suspect, according to Childs, then got back into the vehicle, reversed and then "revved up the engine and drove straight at" Childs.

"Mr. Childs stated he was in fear for his life thinking that he was going to be ran over so he fired at the vehicle," police said.

The suspect, seen in a blue shirt pushing a grocery cart, is suspected of striking a man on a motorized scooter while in his vehicle. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
The suspect, seen in a blue shirt pushing a grocery cart, is suspected of striking a man on a motorized scooter while in his vehicle. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

Childs was unsure if he struck the vehicle, however, the vehicle struck him, knocking him to the ground and destroying the scooter.

The man's vehicle, which was captured on surveillance footage, is a dark-colored four-door sedan with the front driver's side tire missing a hubcap.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS, use the free P3 Tips mobile application or provide information online at www.stopcrime.org. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and a special coding system is used to provide the cash reward.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Crime Stoppers offering cash reward after man on scooter hit by car