Ravenna Police shoot, kill suspect armed with BB gun who used victim as ‘human shield’
RAVENNA, Ohio (WOIO) - Ravenna Police released new details Monday after officers fatally shot a suspect who used a victim as a human shield and pointed a BB gun at police.
According to a release from Ravenna Police, at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the 600 block of Hazen Street for a report of a man with a gun sleeping on the floor of an apartment.
The victim said suspect Shawn Ware lived directly about the victim and would shoot down through the floor into the victim’s apartment below, according to the release.
The victim was unsure if Ware had a BB gun or a real gun, the release said.
The release said Ware forced himself into the victim’s apartment around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning with a handgun. Ware told the victim he needed a place to hide.
Ravenna police arrived at the apartment just before 1:40 a.m., where the victim let them in and told them Ware was sleeping on the floor with a handgun in his pocket, according to the release.
The release said Ware then woke up, stood and pulled the firearm from his pocket.
Officers told Ware to drop the gun, but Ware then pointed the gun at officers.
The release said officers then retreated.
According to the release, Ware then forced the victim out the door and came out behind him. Police say Ware used the victim as a human shield.
Ravenna Police heard the victim say, “Don’t shoot me.”
The victim then broke free from Ware and ran back into the apartment.
Ware then brandished the handgun at the officers, the release said.
The release said officers fired eight rounds at Ware and fatally struck him.
According to the release, officers immediately attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police later found Ware’s handgun was a CO-2 powered BB gun.
No officers were injured, according to the release.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Ravenna Police Department at 330-296-6486.
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