Guns drawn at local Columbus recreation center during voting hours, police say

A dispute Tuesday at Shirley B. Winston recreation center in Columbus led to people brandishing firearms, according to Columbus police.

Police said they responded to the dispute at 4:54 p.m. Tuesday during polling hours to reports of guns being produced by multiple individuals during an altercation.

The parties involved in the altercation had left by the time police arrived, according to a news release.

The gymnasium of the recreation center was temporarily closed to prevent any further issues, according to police.

Police said the altercation didn’t disrupt the voting process which was happening at a separate area inside the recreation center.

A news release from the department stated the following:

“The Columbus Police Department stands ready to assist in ensuring the safety of park visitors and voters. Due to this incident, we will be providing increased police presence at local recreation centers. The safety and security of our community, including polling places, remain our top priority.”