By Mary Beth Lane
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Fairfield County grand jury has declined to return any charges against a Lancaster police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a woman during a domestic disturbance at her home Nov. 19.
That clears Officer Shawn M. Bakr, 33, from any wrongdoing in the shooting death of Misty Dawn Shook. The grand jury made the decision Friday.
“We are very grateful that Officer Bakr was exonerated,” Mayor David S. Smith said yesterday, adding that the officer followed police protocol in his response to the incident.
Bakr shot Shook, 29, when she came at him with a knife, authorities said. He was responding to a 911 call made by Shook’s boyfriend from their home at 703 Garfield Ave., reporting that Shook was suicidal and threatening to climb into a water-filled bathtub with electrical appliances.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation investigated the shooting, which is routine in such matters. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien was appointed special prosecutor to review the case, which also is routine.
Copyright 2010 The Columbus Dispatch