A man was fatally shot by Columbus police officers last week after a series of encounters where he refused help and was found armed with knives.

The man, identified as Lamine Mahmoudi, 34, had been involved in multiple police interactions on the night of his death, ultimately leading to a deadly confrontation outside a police substation in the University District.

The initial call to authorities came around 7 p.m. on Monday, when Columbus police were alerted about a man, later identified as Mahmoudi, who was reportedly bleeding and armed with an “edged weapon” inside a residence on Chittenden Avenue.

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In response, Columbus police officers and members of the department’s Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) unit, which specializes in mental health-related calls, arrived at the scene.

Mahmoudi, however, refused to cooperate with the crisis unit and police left without further incident, according to WBNS-TV.

At approximately 10:24 p.m. that same night, police received a second call from the same residence, this time reporting that Mahmoudi had threatened others in the home with a knife.

Officers returned to the scene, once again deploying the Mobile Crisis Response Unit. Although members of the unit managed to communicate with Mahmoudi over the phone, he refused assistance.

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According to a police report, Mahmoudi told the crisis unit that the police “need to shoot him.”

Despite the escalating nature of the calls, officers left the scene as Mahmoudi had not harmed anyone, and there was no immediate threat to others in the home.

The situation escalated when police received a third call shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Mahmoudi was reported to be in possession of several “edged weapons” near the Columbus Police substation on the 200 block of Chittenden Avenue.

Officers confronted Mahmoudi in an alley, ordering him to drop his weapons. According to body camera footage released by the Columbus Division of Police, Mahmoudi was seen holding both a meat cleaver and a butcher’s knife.

Despite repeated commands from officers, Mahmoudi refused to drop the weapons and walked toward the officers.

The footage, which was released on Friday, shows that a total of six officers were present at the scene, with five of them drawing their firearms and one officer holding a taser.

As Mahmoudi took approximately five steps toward the officers, several opened fire, while one officer deployed the taser.

Mahmoudi fell to the ground, and nearly 30 seconds passed before officers began rendering aid. One officer is seen handcuffing Mahmoudi while others provided medical assistance. Despite their efforts, Mahmoudi was pronounced dead at 1:36 a.m., according to The Columbus Dispatch.

A meat cleaver and another knife were recovered at the scene. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now looking into the incident, which is standard protocol for any officer-involved shooting in Columbus.

The Columbus Division of Police stated that the use of force is under investigation, and officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.

The encounters with Mahmoudi raise questions about the response to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

According to police reports and body camera footage, Mahmoudi had been showing signs of distress throughout the night.

The Mobile Crisis Response Unit had been called twice before the fatal encounter, but both times Mahmoudi rejected assistance.

During the first two calls, he had not directly harmed anyone, and thus, officers were limited in their actions.

Neighbors and roommates of Mahmoudi told officers that although he had been acting erratically.

The situation changed in the early hours of Tuesday when Mahmoudi was found outside his residence, visibly armed and refusing to surrender.

The Columbus Division of Police’s handling of the situation is under scrutiny, with body camera footage providing a detailed account of the events.

The footage shows officers attempting to de-escalate the situation, though Mahmoudi continued to advance toward them with weapons in hand.

In an effort to neutralize the threat, officers resorted to lethal force after less-lethal options, such as the taser, appeared ineffective.

This incident adds to the ongoing debate regarding the role of law enforcement in responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

While the Columbus Division of Police has specialized units, such as the Mobile Crisis Response, the situation with Mahmoudi demonstrates the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with individuals who refuse help and pose a potential threat.

As investigations continue, the community will await further details from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which will determine whether the officers involved followed proper protocol and whether the use of deadly force was justified.

The release of body camera footage is part of the department’s effort to maintain transparency, though the case highlights the complex nature of responding to mental health emergencies.