Two Cincinnati police officers opened fire and fatally struck an armed man as he tried to flee during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning.
Officers Mark Bode and Thomas Weigard pulled over Donyale Rowe, 37, for illegally tinted windows. During the traffic stop Rowe fled on foot and as the officers pursued the suspect, he pulled a gun, WLWT reports.
According to reports, at least one of the officers deployed his Taser, but failed subdue Rowe. When Rowe produced a handgun, the officers fired at least six shots, hitting Rowe twice.
“The male subject who exited the vehicle became combative, resistant, and produced a firearm,” said Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell. “So a brief struggle ensued, which the officers were able to disengage momentarily once they noticed that the suspect did, in fact, have a firearm. And as the suspect turned, he did produce a firearm. That’s when shots were fired.”
Rowe was transported to UC Medical Center to be treated for his injuries but was later pronounced dead.
While Officers Bode and Weigard were been placed on administrative leave after the shooting, Blackwell said it appears their actions were justified.
“We believe at this point that the officers’ actions were all in line with training and policies,” Blackwell added.
Blackwell said the shooting has left the officers a bit shaken, but is happy they didn’t sustain any injuries.
“We don’t come to work and want to have to use deadly force, clearly,” Blackwell said. “And I think that needs to be understood. So they’re a bit shaken up, but they’re doing okay. Thank goodness that they are both okay.”
[ WLWT ]
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