Cameraman shot: Andy Grimm, a news photographer from Ohio, was shot and wounded by a sheriff’s deputy who apparently mistook his equipment for a weapon
A small Ohio news organization says one of its photographers has been shot by a sheriff’s deputy who apparently mistook his camera for a gun during a traffic stop.
The New Carlisle News reports photographer Andy Grimm had left the office at around 10pm Monday to take pictures of lightning when he came across a Clark County sheriff’s deputy performing a traffic stop in New Carlisle, north of Dayton.
Grimm tells the news organization that he decided to take pictures of the traffic stop on Main Street, noting that he was not the one being pulled over.
He says he got out of his Jeep and started setting up his tripod and camera in full view of the deputy performing the traffic stop when he heard, ‘pop, pop,’ and then realized he’s been shot in the side.
Grimm was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover.
The wounded photographer later said Deputy Jake Shaw gave him no warning before opening fire on him.
‘I was just doing my job,’ he said.
Grimm, who works for New Carlisle News, was shot in the chest but is expected to recover
Grimm, however, added that he knows and likes the deputy who shot him, and he does not want him to lose his job over this incident, reported WDTN.
Speaking to the New York Daily News from his hospital bed, the wounded cameraman said one bullet struck him in the chest and another may have grazed his shoulder.
Afterwards, Grimm said the deputy rushed over to his aid and kept repeating, ‘I thought it was a gun.’
The newspaper, whose publisher is Andy Grimm’s father, Dale, offered an update on the photographer’s condition on its Facebook page overnight, saying that Grimm is very sore but is otherwise ‘doing fine.’ He is expected to be released home sometime Tuesday.
The case has been turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for a review.
A friend has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Grimm with his medical expenses while he recovers from his wounds.
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