Jesse Tinsley
Plain Dealer Reporter
OHIO — Raymond Herring’s birthday celebration at an East Side lounge was a festive occasion early Sunday morning until a pistol - tucked inside his waistband - accidentally discharged as he posed for a photo with a woman.
Patrons of Skeet’s VSP Lounge, at 3551 East 93rd St., were startled but unharmed by the blast and ricocheting bullet.
Security escorted Herring outside just as police were passing by the bar. He took off running with police in pursuit.
Two blocks and moments later, officers confronted the 40-year-old Herring, who was hiding behind a fence. He was shot after he pointed a handgun at one of the officers, according to Cleveland police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho.
Herring, whom police said was shot once in the chest, underwent surgery early Sunday morning and was in stable condition, according to MetroHealth Medical Center.
Stacho said a police patrol car stopped at Skeet’s after officers noticed a crowd gathered outside.
When patrons told police Herring had a gun, he denied the accusation and fled north on East 93rd before disappearing down Beacon Avenue, a cobblestone street full of empty lots, boarded and abandoned homes and several street lights.
Three police officers, including one from a second patrol car which stopped to help, chased Herring.
Herring barricaded himself behind a white L-shaped fence at a vacant lot around 1:30 a.m. He then rose up from behind the 5-foot-tall fence and pointed a loaded, semiautomatic handgun at one of the officers, Stacho said.
That officer fired nine times from about 25 feet away, striking Herring once in the chest and leaving six or seven bullet holes in the fence, Stacho said.
A resident of one of the few occupied homes on the desolate street said she heard the shots, but became frightened and buried herself under the pillow and covers until sunrise.
The officer, a seven-year member of the force, has been placed on three days of paid leave, which is standard in Cleveland police shootings, said Police Chief Michael McGrath during a news conference.
The officer’s partner suffered a calf injury when the police later struggled with the suspect. He was treated at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, police said.
McGrath said the department does not release the names of officers involved in police shootings until 48 hours after the incident.
Herring was wanted on outstanding warrants including felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, drug abuse and a parole violation, McGrath said.
His record dates back to 1986 and includes convictions for rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and impersonating a police officer, according to police and court records.
Herring was not a regular at Skeet’s, which patrons say attracts a 30-and-older crowd.
Copyright 2008 The Plain Dealer