By Everdeen Mason
Dayton Daily News
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A domestic dispute escalated into a shootout with police near Snyder Park Elementary School late Friday night, leaving the suspected gunman dead and an officer injured.
A Springfield police officer responded to a domestic violence call about 11:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Maiden Lane when he came across two men and a woman arguing in the street. One of the men was trying to protect the woman from the other.
Springfield Police Chief Stephen Moody said one of the men had a handgun, and when the officer asked him to put the gun down and show his weapon, “very quickly, a gunfight ensued.”
The police officer was hit at least once in his lower abdomen after a bullet was deflected by his vest, Moody said. The suspect was also shot in the exchange and ran south toward North Street, pursued by other officers.
The suspect was found in the bushes. Officers carried him to medics, who transported him to Springfield Regional Medical Center, where he died.
The officer was also transported to SRMC and he is expected to survive, Moody said.
Police haven’t released the identities of those involved in the shooting.
The woman and man involved in the initial domestic dispute were taken to police headquarters to be interviewed.
The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed it has the body of the suspect and that an autopsy will be performed. The coroner’s office also wouldn’t identify the deceased.
Springfield police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to both scenes on Maiden Lane and North Street. Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson was also at the scene.
“I want this case to be taken to a grand jury in this county,” Moody said. “I want them to hear the details first hand.”
It is protocol after an officer-involved shooting to take the case to a grand jury so a citizens panel can determine if the shooting was justified, Wilson said. That process could take several weeks.
Springfield police said they won’t release any more information on the shooting until Monday. The Springfield News-Sun has filed public records requests for 911 emergency calls, surveillance videos, police radio traffic and other documents.
Multiple residents said they aren’t sure who lives at the house connected to the dispute because many different people and vehicles come in and out. They also said several children live there, and that the family has never caused any problems.
“We’re trying to determine if the family has children who are students at Snyder Elementary, but we have not confirmed it,” Springfield Superintendent David Estrop said. “We will have our counseling team available on Monday.”
Residents in the area were woken up by the gunshots.
“We heard shots, so we came to see what it was and immediately we saw sirens and police,” said Kendra Jordan, a resident on Maiden Lane. “Before, I saw a boy running through the alley. I couldn’t tell who he was but he was running for dear life.”
Elizabeth Gladman lives on Maiden Lane and said she just moved to the area from the south side of Springfield.
At first she thought the sounds were from a blown transformer until her sister-in-law called to see if the family was safe.
“It’s just a freak thing,” she said. “My biggest concern is at least all the kids were in the house and asleep.”
Several residents in the area said the neighborhood is typically safe. Vickie Gaines has lived in the 1700 block of Maiden Lane for almost 20 years.
“I just hope the officer is all right,” she said. “It’s been a pretty safe neighborhood here. This is the first time this has happened here.”
Police didn’t have information available Saturday about previous law enforcement-involved shootings, but there have been at least four in Clark County since 2007.
On Jan. 1, 2011, Clark County Sheriff ‘s Deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper was shot and killed by Michael Ferryman, who in turn was shot seven times by law enforcement at his trailer in Enon Beach.
In January 2009, Clark County Sheriff ‘s deputies shot Donald L. White, 44, in Huber Heights after White allegedly shot a man in the parking lot of the Springfield Applebee’s.
In November of that year, two Springfield police officers were involved in the shooting death of Todd A. Williamson, 41, after responding to a domestic violence call.
Springfield police officers also shot and killed Oscar Lewis in April 2007 after Lewis allegedly fled from a hit-skip scene and attacked officers with a garden tool.
Copyright 2012 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.