Authorities: Armed individual fatally shot by Akron officer on Thanksgiving evening

AKRON, Ohio — On Thanksgiving night, an armed man was shot and killed by a police officer in Akron after gunshots were reported in the area, according to official reports.

The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. Thursday, when two police officers were stationed in their cruiser within the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, working on an earlier report unrelated to the current event. Upon hearing gunfire, the officers immediately exited their vehicle to investigate the source of the noise.

Soon after their investigation began, the officers confronted a man who was in possession of a loaded weapon. Following this encounter, one of the officers discharged his firearm, hitting the suspect. Emergency medical assistance was rendered at the scene, and the man was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

As part of standard operating procedures, the officer involved in the shooting—who has been with the Akron police force for nearly five years—and his partner have been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is reviewed. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations will conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting, with the findings set to be evaluated by the state attorney general’s office. These results will then be presented to a grand jury in Summit County for further assessment. Additionally, the Akron police will be carrying out an internal review, the findings of which will be submitted to both the police chief and the city’s police auditor.