Columbus Officers Indicted in February Officer-Involved Shooting

Staff Report

The Columbus Police Department has acknowledged and respected the grand jury’s decision to indict officers Kenneth Rammage and Xavier Perez, who were involved in the shooting of Jermaine Hernandez on Feb. 7, 2024.

The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment, formally charging the officers with aggravated assault and aggravated battery under Georgia law. The charges stem from an officer-involved shooting at the 1100 block of 24th Street, where police responded to a call about a suspicious person.

According to initial reports, officers encountered Hernandez, and during the interaction, at least one officer fired their weapon, striking him in his hand. Hernandez was taken to a local hospital with injuries, though police did not immediately release details about his condition. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to handle the case, as is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.

With the conclusion of the criminal process, the Columbus Police Department will now conduct an internal investigation to ensure all department policies and procedures were followed during the incident.

“The safety of our officers and the community remains our priority,” the department said in a statement. “We are committed to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement.”

The department emphasized its ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and professionalism, pledging to work daily to strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community.