CLEVELAND — Police have arrested three people in connection with the shooting death of 22-year Cleveland police veteran Detective James Skernivitz, according to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
The identities of the three people who were arrested have not been released. Two are juveniles, the other is an adult, police said.
The arrests were made at three locations across the city. They happened on Kirton Avenue, Cypress Avenue and West 81st Street.
According to Williams, the juveniles were taken into custody on unrelated charges.
The shooting happened Thursday around 10 p.m. in the 3200 block of West 65th Street near Storer Avenue. Another person, whom police say was not a suspect, was pronounced dead at the scene. That person has been identified as 50-year-old Scott Dingess.
Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Columbus responded to the scene to assist the police.
Early Friday morning, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said, “We definitely need the prayers of the people in the city. This officer was out doing what all police officers do—trying to protect the people the city.”
Williams said that Skernivitz was part of Operation Legend, a federal law enforcement effort taking place in cities across the country, including Cleveland. He was most recently assigned to the Gang Impact Unit. He started with CPD in 1998.
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