A routine patrol in a known high-crime area on Werner Street ended in a fatal officer-involved shooting late Wednesday evening.
Two female patrol officers, each with significant experience on the force—one with 8 years and the other with 11 years—approached two males standing outside a store clearly marked with “No Trespassing” signs. After asking both men for identification, one was cleared and released. The other, a 42-year-old male, was found to have outstanding municipal warrants.
As the officers attempted to check the suspect for weapons, one of them felt a firearm. The officers instructed the suspect to place his hands behind his back, but he refused to comply. A struggle ensued, with the officers and the suspect grappling for control of the gun.
In the midst of the altercation, one of the officers discharged her weapon, striking the suspect. Emergency medical services were called to the scene, and the suspect was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The officers involved sustained minor bruises from the confrontation but were otherwise unharmed.
The incident is under investigation, as is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The identities of the officers and the suspect have not yet been released.