CLEVELAND — A Cleveland Municipal Court Housing bailiff fatally shot a man on the city's West Side during an eviction Thursday, the Cleveland Division of Police confirmed.
It happened at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of West 96th Street around noon.
Authorities said preliminary information indicates two court bailiffs went to a home for a court-ordered eviction but no one answered when they went to the door.
Police said the bailiffs and a maintenance worker then tried to make entry.
According to Cleveland police, that's when a man come through the door with a "blunt object" and attacked the worker and the bailiffs.
Another resident heard the commotion.
"All you heard was like a bunch of banging and stuff," said Lisa White-Lavender, who lives two floors above the man's apartment. "I'm like oh my God, it finally came to a head. They're trying to get this person out of there."
Cleveland police said one of the bailiffs then fired a weapon, striking the man.
The man was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, Cleveland police said. Investigators have not released his name.
Chris Ball, spokesperson for Cleveland Municipal Housing Court said he had no comment on what happened.
The shooting remains under investigation.
The court issued the following statement Friday morning:
"A tragic incident during an eviction by Cleveland Housing Court Bailiffs yesterday unfortunately resulted in a man’s death. Judge W. Moná Scott and the Cleveland Housing Court wish to extend condolences to his family and friends. We will have no further comment while the investigation continues."
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