UPDATED: May 18, 4:15 p.m.
Court filings show 23-year-old Justin L. Beabout appeared for his first hearing in Champaign County Municipal Court at 8:30 a.m. on May 18, 2026, following the early-morning officer-involved shooting in Urbana on Friday, May 15.
During the hearing, Beabout was assigned a court-appointed attorney, identified in records as Attorney King. Prosecutor Roger Steffan represented the state, and Beabout appeared via video from custody.
Court records indicate Beabout is charged with felonious assault, a felony stemming from the confrontation with officers earlier that morning after police responded to a disturbance call.
Judge-issued orders set bond at $100,000 cash or surety.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
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Urbana Police Chief Josh Jacobs has released the following statement regarding an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday morning in Urbana.
At approximately 8:14 a.m. today, Urbana Police officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of West Church Street in reference to a disturbance.
Upon arrival, officers encountered a male individual identified as Justin L. Beabout, 23, who was reportedly involved in the disturbance and armed with a knife. According to the release, Beabout did not comply with officers’ commands.
During the encounter, an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Beabout was treated at the scene by medical personnel and transported to Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital. After being released from the hospital, he was taken to the Tri-County Regional Jail and charged with Felonious Assault.
No officers were injured during the incident.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has been called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting. In accordance with Urbana Police Division policy, the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Urbana Police Division was assisted at the scene by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
No additional information will be released at this time.
— Josh Jacobs, Urbana Police Chief
