A man accused in the tragic shooting of a police officer in Cleveland has been deemed unfit to stand trial. The ruling was delivered by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Ashley Kilbane on Monday. The suspect, 25-year-old De’Lawnte Hardy from Cleveland, will undergo indefinite hospitalization and may potentially face trial if his condition improves. Hardy is currently in custody with a bail set at $10 million.
The incident occurred on July 4 when Hardy fatally shot officer Jamieson Ritter during an arrest attempt by Cleveland police officers. Authorities revealed that the charges against Hardy stemmed from a previous shooting that resulted in the severe injury and subsequent death of his 63-year-old grandmother, who was shot in the head.
Following a confrontation with law enforcement at a residence in Cleveland, Hardy attempted to escape on a bicycle and fired four shots at the officers. One of the bullets struck Ritter, a respected four-year veteran on the police force, leading to his death shortly after being transported to a hospital.