Woman killed before east Columbus 'gun battle' identified

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Officials have identified the woman killed in a fatal Saturday domestic violence incident that led to the suspect being shot and killed by Columbus police.

The Franklin County Coroner's Office said Nicole Pleasant, 45, died Saturday on Lockwood Road.

According to a Columbus police union representative, Pleasant was shot and killed by a "heavily armed" man who then engaged police in a "gun battle" just after 7 p.m. on the 4700 block of McAllister Avenue.

At least one officer returned fire and struck the suspect, Columbus police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m. No officers were injured in the incident.

Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a Monday press conference that the officers were shot at by the suspect almost immediately after arriving on the scene and were forced to return fire.

“It was an active situation," she said. "The person was shooting not only at the victim that he shot but he also threatened the callers as well, so our response was very appropriate."

Police body camera footage showed the officers returning fire while retreating for cover. After approximately a minute, the officers emerged and found the suspect lying on the ground, suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Bryant said both of the officers who responded to the call have each been with the department for one year.

The identity of the man killed by police has not been released.

This was the first of two shootouts involving Columbus police that resulted in a suspect being killed. The second happened Sunday when the suspect in a shooting at a West Jefferson Amazon facility shot a Columbus police officer. That suspect, identified as 22-year-old Hamsa Yusuf Ali, was then shot and killed by police on Georgesville Road.

"Two nights in a row, our officers, sworn to protect and serve, found themselves in dangerous, critical incidents," Bryant said. "Calling on their training and even assisting outside agencies, they were able to secure two very real threats and restore peace and safety to the communities that were impacted."