Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:51 PM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A Columbus man was killed this evening after a gunfight in a North Side parking lot.
Thomas E. Goldsmith, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 p.m.
Witnesses told police that Goldsmith approached a couple in their car at Kenmore Square Apartments holding a gun and demanded money from the man at the steering wheel, witnesses said. Goldsmith's gun misfired and the other man began shooting.
Afterward, the man called police and said, "I shot this dude because he tried to rob me. What was I supposed to do? My girlfriend's pregnant," witnesses said. He emptied his gun of bullets and stayed in the parking lot until police arrived, they said.
Columbus assault squad Sgt. Christ Holzhauser said several guns were recovered at the scene, and the man who fired is cooperating with the investigation.
Holzhauser said self-defense "is definitely a possibility.
"If it ends up being a self-defense thing, it was very smart on his part to stay on the scene," Holzhauser said.
Police expect to release the name of the shooter later tonight.
