Ohio Photographer Shot By Deputy While Setting Up For Photos

A small Ohio news organization said one of its photographers was shot by a sheriff’s deputy Monday night while he was setting up to take photos of a lighting storm. Photographer Andy Grimm “had his camera in his hand” when he was shot in his side by a Clark County sheriff’s deputy in New Carlisle after exiting his Jeep.

New Carlisle is located just north of Dayton, Ohio and according to Fox News, is where a news outlet photographer was shot by a sheriff’s deputy without warning.  The New Carlisle News made a post about the shooting of Grimm on the social media outlet, Facebook.

According to The New Carlisle News, Grimm had left the newsroom around 10 p.m. on Monday to take pictures of a lightning storm. While he was taking pictures, a traffic stop occurred on the same road, according to the article. “I was going out to take pictures and I saw the traffic stop and I thought, ‘Hey, cool. I’ll get some pictures here,'” Grimm told the newspaper. He said he pulled into a parking lot in full view of the deputy, got out of his Jeep and started setting up his tripod and camera. “I turned around toward the cars and then ‘pop, pop.”

It is speculated by the newspaper Grimm works for that the camera and tripod may have looked like a weapon to the deputy. Grimm said the deputy, who was identified in reports as Jake Shaw, gave him no warning that he was going to fire his service weapon. “I was just doing my job,” Grimm said. “I know Jake. I like Jake. I don’t want him to lose his job over this.”

Grimm’s odd reaction in favor of the deputy is striking some in the community as a little alarming. His allegiance to the “thin blue line” appears to be unwavering, even after being shot for no apparent reason.

Grimm was rushed to the local hospital for surgery and he’s expected to make a full recovery. The Dayton Daily News reported that this case has been turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.