RAVENNA, Ohio – A man tried to use a bystander as a human shield after using a pellet gun to intimidate the person, leading to a fatal officer-involved shooting, WKYC reported.
The March 16 incident began when Ravenna Police Department officers responded to a report of a man sleeping on the floor with a gun. Upon arrival, they found him lying down with what appeared to be a firearm.
The suspect eventually woke up and pulled the gun from his pocket. Officers issued multiple instructions for the suspect to drop the weapon.
He then stood up, yelled, “F--- y’all,” and pointed the gun at the officers. Officers had backed away to a safe distance and continued to instruct the man to drop the gun.
Moments later, the man tried to use a bystander as a hostage and human shield to exit the apartment.
The bystander was able to break free and run back into the apartment, at which point the man started to approach an officer at the end of a hallway, still wielding the gun. Two officers then fired shots, striking the man.
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the suspect died at the scene, according to the report. No officers were injured. The man’s gun was later discovered to be a pellet gun.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the case.
