WILMINGTON, Ohio — One day after an hours-long standoff between law enforcement and a Columbus man resulted in the man’s death, an employee of a nearby business reflected on what she saw.
Officials said Ricky Shiffer, 42, fled north on Interstate 71 after he attempted to breach the FBI office in Cincinnati on Thursday morning. He stopped his vehicle near Wilmington and exchanged gunfire with officials, where businesses nearby witnessed it.
What You Need To Know
- Holly Carpenter saw dozens of law enforcement cars down the highway in front of her workplace Thursday
- Ricky Shiffer was identified as the suspect that was ultimately shot and killed after an hours-long standoff
- Shiffer reportedly attempted to breach the FBI office in Cincinnati
Holly Carpenter said she was just doing her job when she noticed something wasn’t right.
“I was just back here, watering [flowers] answering a few questions and heard a whole bunch of sirens,” Carpenter said.
Holly Carpenter waters plants at her shop near Wilmington. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)
The sirens belonged to the cruisers of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers in pursuit of Shiffer. After a lengthy standoff, law enforcement officers fatally shot Shiffer.
Carpenter was just down the street when the situaiton happened outside of Wilmington.
“It’s pretty quiet,” she said of the rural community.
Holly Carpenter was at her shop near Wilmington when a standoff happened down the road. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)
She said she felt safe knowing officials had the suspect contained.
“I knew he wasn’t getting over here unless he was running through the corn, and running through the cornfield is not a good time,” she said. “And I figured making it through here in a cornfield was not going to be likely.”
Carpenter said she knew she couldn’t stay in the vicinity, so she closed up shop early.
“There weren’t going to be any customers and it would be safer to be a little further away,” Carpenter said.
She said she hopes things will continue to be on the quiet side.
Holly Carpenter waters plants at her shop near Wilmington. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)
“I mean, I feel like it will settle down,” she said. “What are the chances of something happening again this soon?”
Public records showed Shiffer’s most-recent address was in Columbus.
Neither the FBI nor the Ohio State Highway Patrol are commenting further on the case.
