Ohio

Man indicted in shooting of Ohio officer, could face death

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Columbus, Ohio, shows Lincoln Rutledge. A grand jury handed down an indictment Tuesday, June 7, 2016, against the 44-year-old Rutledge that includes charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated arson, in connection with an April 10, 2016, standoff and shooting of 54-year-old Columbus SWAT officer Steven M. Smith, who died April 12, 2016. (Franklin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Columbus Division of Police shows police SWAT officer Steven M. Smith. A grand jury handed down an indictment Tuesday, June 7, 2016, against 44-year-old Lincoln Rutledge that includes charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated arson, in connection with an April 10, 2016, standoff and shooting of the 54-year-old Smith, who died April 12, 2016. (Columbus Division of Police via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this April 10, 2016, file photo, damage and charred remains of an apartment building are left following an overnight standoff between an apartment resident and SWAT officers in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. A grand jury handed down an indictment Tuesday, June 7, 2016, against 44-year-old Lincoln Rutledge that includes charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated arson, in connection with the standoff and shooting of 54-year-old Columbus SWAT officer Steven M. Smith, who died April 12, 2016. (Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

A man has been indicted in the fatal shooting of an Ohio police officer on charges that carry the possibility of a death sentence.

The indictment handed down Tuesday against 44-year-old Lincoln Rutledge includes aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated arson.

He is accused of shooting Columbus SWAT officer Steven Smith in the head while officers were trying to arrest Rutledge on an arson warrant.

The 54-year-old Smith died two days after being shot April 10 while standing in the turret of a SWAT vehicle.

Ohio law includes killing a police officer as a factor that can lead to capital punishment.

Messages seeking comment on the indictment were left with the public defenders who have been representing Rutledge.