The owner of an Alliance car dealership has provided new details about the confrontation that preceded Tuesday’s fatal officer-involved shooting, saying the incident involved a man and a female employee who were already acquainted and was unrelated to any vehicle sale or service.

Wally Armour, owner of Wally Armour’s dealership, told Jordan Miller News that 64-year-old Joseph Derrico Jr. was familiar with the employee and had previously provided or arranged transportation for her to and from work.

Armour said Derrico had visited the dealership before without causing problems.

The new information provides additional context about the incident that prompted police to respond to the dealership around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, before officers encountered Derrico on Johnson Avenue.

Dealership owner describes confrontation

According to Armour, Derrico entered one of the dealership’s buildings where the female employee was working on a vehicle.

Armour said Derrico began closing the vehicle’s door and striking its window.

Other employees intervened and escorted him out of the building.

Armour said Derrico then produced a firearm and pointed it toward the building and the female employee.

The circumstances that prompted the confrontation remain unclear.

Armour emphasized that the incident was not connected to work performed by the dealership or the sale of a vehicle.

He also said Derrico’s presence at the business was not unusual because of his prior acquaintance with the employee.

After the confrontation, Armour said Derrico drove toward State Street and stopped in front of the dealership before returning to the lot.

Derrico subsequently left the property.

Alliance police arrived after he had departed, Armour said.

Police locate Derrico before deadly confrontation

Alliance Police Chief Akenra X previously confirmed that officers were dispatched to the dealership following a report of a man brandishing a handgun during an altercation.

“It appears that the suspect went to Wally Armour’s car dealership and headed out with some of the employees, and at one point brandished a handgun, and that’s why we were called,” X told reporters Tuesday evening.

Officers later located Derrico’s vehicle near Buckeye Avenue and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

According to X, Derrico failed to yield and continued into an apartment complex parking lot on Johnson Avenue.

Officers approached his vehicle and ordered him to place his hands on its roof.

The chief said Derrico refused to comply and an officer deployed a Taser, which did not appear to have the intended effect.

“Refused to comply, and at one point he was tased and didn’t seem to respond to that, and then he reached around and came up with the gun,” X said.

Two officers subsequently fired their weapons, fatally striking Derrico.

Three officers were involved in the confrontation. One deployed the Taser, while the other two discharged their firearms.

All three officers were uninjured.

Questions remain about shooting

Police recovered a firearm at the scene, but investigators have not determined whether Derrico fired it during the confrontation.

“It appears that he may have fired one, but we’re not certain yet, and we’ll wait for BCI to determine that,” X said.

Authorities also have not confirmed the total number of shots fired.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation into the shooting.

Armour’s account provides additional information about the events at the dealership, but the circumstances surrounding the dispute and the actions of those involved remain part of the broader sequence of events under examination.

The investigation is ongoing.