An armed suspect who had been ordered to drop his weapon, instead used a hostage as a human shield, and then was fatally shot by Ravenna Police.

In a release issued this morning, Ravenna Police Captain, Jake Smallfield, explained the incident unfolded at 1:30AM Sunday morning, when someone inside Apartment #3 at 645 Hazen Street, called to report there was a man with a gun sleeping on the floor.

Once the officers arrived, they knocked on the door, and someone inside opened it; revealing the man on the floor with a gun in his waistband. At that point, police say they retreated, and told the man to drop his weapon. Then, the door closed, and they continued to issue vebal commands from the outside.

But, he didn’t drop the gun.

Instead, police say the suspect came out of the apartment holding another man hostage, who then was able to escape, and the man with the gun pointed it at them. That’s when police opened fire, and shot him. 

However, though they attempted life-saving measures; he died at the scene. No police officers were injured.

Now, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is looking into the incident, and Agents are interviewing witnesses.

The identity of the man who died is being withheld pending further investigation, and both officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.