A police officer shot and killed a suspect early Saturday morning during an investigation of a stolen vehicle at a gas station. The incident occurred around 1:04 a.m. at the Duke and Duchess gas station located in the 2200 block of East Avenue.
According to police, officers spotted the stolen auto in the gas station parking lot and during the encounter, an officer fired two rounds from his department-issued firearm, striking the suspect. Emergency first aid was immediately administered, including the application of at least one chest seal. Despite efforts to save him, the 54-year-old male suspect was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter. His name is being withheld pending further investigation.
A loaded firearm was found inside the vehicle, raising further concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The officer involved has been with the Akron Police Department for two and a half years and has been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard protocol in such cases.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigations is conducting the investigation, which will be reviewed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office before being submitted to the Summit County Grand Jury for evaluation. Additionally, the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will carry out a separate internal investigation, with the findings to be reported to the police chief and the City of Akron Police Auditor.
The incident remains under investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
