Grand jury clears officer in fatal shooting of 17-year-old boy in Columbus

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A grand jury found no “criminal wrongdoing” after an officer shot and killed a teen earlier this year in Columbus.

In a press release Wednesday, the City of Columbus announced the grand jury’s ruling, saying that Officer Kyle Blunck’s actions “were in accordance with the law.”

On Feb. 6, officers responded to a welfare check for 17-year-old Chase Ditter after a report of potential self-harm, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

During the welfare check, Ditter pulled out a knife, and an officer tried stunning him with a Taser, according to city officials.

Blunck then shot Ditter with his duty weapon. Ditter was pronounced dead at the scene, and Blunck was placed on leave, the patrol said.

The patrol’s special investigation team finished its investigation and provided the findings to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

The attorney general’s office then provided the evidence and brought in witnesses to the grand jury, which led to the verdict.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ditter family, the officers of the Columbus Police Department, the Columbus Public Schools staff and our entire community,” Police Chief Chuch Scherer said in a statement.