TOLEDO, OH - On Tuesday morning, SWAT officers in Columbus, Ohio approached 33-year-old Darnell Jones, a man wanted for the murder of his daughter, 13-year-old Kei’mani Latigue. Jones drew a firearm at the officers and was shot and wounded by one of the officers.
As reported by WTOL11, Jones was taken into custody and is currently at a Columbus Hospital undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Following the confrontation with Jones, Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local 9, offered a harrowing account of the incident, telling WTOL11 reporters, “Hey, good news; we have your guy.”
Steel told reporters, “I received a call we never want to get. One of our officers was involved in a police-involved shooting. I immediately went to the scene to speak to our officer, one of our SWAT officers, a dedicated officer, highly trained, as you know, our special operations bureau, longtime member. He's OK. Thank God he's OK.”
He continued, “I heard about this case. This was an individual wanted for homicide out of Toledo. I called my union counterpart in Toledo. I said, 'Hey, good news; we have your guy.' Your guy committed a murder, chose to flee to our town. I'll tell you right now, the wrong town to come to if you murder somebody. Our SWAT team will go out looking for you.”
The union representative then recounted in horrifying, graphic detail the gruesome crimes allegedly committed by Jones against his 13-year-old daughter Kei’mani Latigue, according to WTOL11.
WARNING: Extremely Graphic Content. Reader Discretion is Advised.
Steel told the gathered press, “This case is one of the most horrific cases I've ever heard. This is a 14-year-old (sic; the victim would have turned 14 on Friday) that was murdered, raped, had her hands cut off, and her throat almost cut off. This is an absolute animal that came into our town.
"I understand some of your editors won't let you print the word 'animal' or use the word 'animal.' If people are more offended by how I'm describing him than by how he treated that girl, that's on them, not on me. Again, I'm glad our officers are OK. Our SWAT are the best of the best. We send a message: You murder somebody, do not come to this town. I'll answer any questions.”
Responding to a reporter’s question about how dangerous the suspect was, Steel answered, “It's my understanding this individual might have been walking around the Short North area all night. You've got not just a murderer — a violent murderer, a sadistic murderer — in our neighborhoods. It's appalling. Again, thankful for the men and women of the division of police, our members, for going out there every day finding these individuals and removing them from our street. I'm so glad nobody else was hurt.”
Latigue was first reported missing from the northern area of Toledo, Ohio, last week. The girl's body was found in an abandoned house in the eastern part of the city, and her identity was confirmed by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office on Monday.
Jones is facing murder charges in addition to third-degree felony abduction of Kei'Mani.
As reported by WTOL11, Jones was taken into custody and is currently at a Columbus Hospital undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Following the confrontation with Jones, Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local 9, offered a harrowing account of the incident, telling WTOL11 reporters, “Hey, good news; we have your guy.”
Steel told reporters, “I received a call we never want to get. One of our officers was involved in a police-involved shooting. I immediately went to the scene to speak to our officer, one of our SWAT officers, a dedicated officer, highly trained, as you know, our special operations bureau, longtime member. He's OK. Thank God he's OK.”
He continued, “I heard about this case. This was an individual wanted for homicide out of Toledo. I called my union counterpart in Toledo. I said, 'Hey, good news; we have your guy.' Your guy committed a murder, chose to flee to our town. I'll tell you right now, the wrong town to come to if you murder somebody. Our SWAT team will go out looking for you.”
BREAKING UPDATE: Authorities confirm the man police shot in Columbus is Darnell Jones, who was wanted in Toledo for his daughter's murder, and has now added charges out of Franklin County >> https://t.co/kLF4QebQbb pic.twitter.com/Kim2dI5tK1
— 13 Action News (@13abc) March 25, 2025
The union representative then recounted in horrifying, graphic detail the gruesome crimes allegedly committed by Jones against his 13-year-old daughter Kei’mani Latigue, according to WTOL11.
WARNING: Extremely Graphic Content. Reader Discretion is Advised.
Steel told the gathered press, “This case is one of the most horrific cases I've ever heard. This is a 14-year-old (sic; the victim would have turned 14 on Friday) that was murdered, raped, had her hands cut off, and her throat almost cut off. This is an absolute animal that came into our town.
"I understand some of your editors won't let you print the word 'animal' or use the word 'animal.' If people are more offended by how I'm describing him than by how he treated that girl, that's on them, not on me. Again, I'm glad our officers are OK. Our SWAT are the best of the best. We send a message: You murder somebody, do not come to this town. I'll answer any questions.”
BREAKING NEWS: Police shoot man believed to be Toledo father wanted for daughter’s murder >> https://t.co/kLF4QebQbb pic.twitter.com/dYU9QqGKhx
— 13 Action News (@13abc) March 25, 2025
Responding to a reporter’s question about how dangerous the suspect was, Steel answered, “It's my understanding this individual might have been walking around the Short North area all night. You've got not just a murderer — a violent murderer, a sadistic murderer — in our neighborhoods. It's appalling. Again, thankful for the men and women of the division of police, our members, for going out there every day finding these individuals and removing them from our street. I'm so glad nobody else was hurt.”
Latigue was first reported missing from the northern area of Toledo, Ohio, last week. The girl's body was found in an abandoned house in the eastern part of the city, and her identity was confirmed by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office on Monday.
Jones is facing murder charges in addition to third-degree felony abduction of Kei'Mani.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
3 days ago | Comment by: Dean
All I can say is,,typical.
3 days ago | Comment by: thomas
Death sentence would be too lenient
1 day ago | Comment by: Suzanne
Shot. Arrested. Shot again. That's the proper order for this circumstance.