Former Ohio State football player Derrick Foster was charged after the April 30 shooting that left two Columbus police officers wounded, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

Police were raiding a suspected crack house on the city's east side when gunfire erupted.

Foster told 10TV News during an exclusive jailhouse interview that he was inside the home gambling when police conducted the raid. He claimed that he never heard officers identify themselves and thought someone was trying to break in and rob those inside.

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Foster told 10TV News that he fired his weapon after someone from outside shot at the house.

"Whoever was outside fired back in, and that's when I un-holstered my gun and I fired two shots," Foster said. "Basically, I was firing two shots, like a warning shot."

While the officers recover from their wounds, Foster remains in custody at the Franklin County Jail. Since the shooting, Foster has received backing from friends and family who drafted at least a dozen letters on Foster's behalf.

Two of the letters have incited anger among members of the Fraternal Order of Police. FOP President Jim Gilbert expressed displeasure that one letter was written on Pickerington High School Central letterhead.

"I'm disgusted with the fact that a principal would write this on letterhead," Gilbert said.

Gilbert said the letterhead insinuated that the principal's "thoughts and prayers" were shared by the entire Pickerington School Board, Kocot reported.

The FOP replied to the letter by saying, "With a thought process such as this I am reluctant to trust his judgment in any critical incident that could occur at our schools."

The FOP also blasted a Foster support letter written on Budget Rent-A-Car letterhead, and urged its members to "boycott the stores," Kocot reported.

Foster's lawyer complained that the FOP's actions bordered on witness intimidation, as some of the letter writers could be called to testify on Foster's behalf.

Gilbert said that was not the point.

"I'm quite sure if they're called in as character witnesses … Is the entire school board system of Pickerington and the entire Budget corporate officer going to come as a character witness?" Gilbert asked. "I don't think so."

Gilbert said the Pickerington School District told him that the principal received a letter of reprimand, but Gilbert said the FOP still planned to take a stand at the district's board meeting scheduled for next week, Kocot reported.

The superintendent of Pickerington City Schools did not return 10TV's phone calls on Monday.

The owner of Budget Rent-A-Car told 10TV that the letter he wrote was his own personal opinion.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

May 22, 2008: No Bond For Ex-Ohio State Football Player
May 21, 2008: Officers, Ex-OSU Player Discuss Shooting
May 2, 2008: No Bond For Men Accused Of Shooting Officers
April 30, 2008: 2 Charged With Shooting Police Officers

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