Man dies after firing at officers during 8-hour standoff with SWAT in Slavic Village

CLEVELAND — A 36-year-old man died in the hospital after an eight-hour standoff with SWAT and police in Slavic Village early Thursday morning; the man fired a long gun at neighbors, officers and police cars, and displayed in the window of his house an LED sign, "Fair warning, today will be the end."

Cleveland EMS said Robert Perkins, 36, was transported to the hospital where he later died.

It is unknown if the man was shot by officers or if it was self-inflicted.

Police said the standoff started after a man barricaded himself inside a building.

About 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, neighbors called police after they reported a man shooting from outside the second floor of 7702 Spafford. Neighbors said that person was shooting at other houses and even a car driving down the street.

Cleveland Police, Cleveland Division of Police SWAT Unit, Crisis Negotiation Team, and Cuyahoga County’s Sherriff SWAT team attempted to negotiate with the suspect for 8 hours, before police said the suspect started shooting at officers and cruisers.

"I guess he actually pointed a gun and shot at a couple of the SWAT guys," said next-door neighbor Roger. He continued, "guns going off. Rapid fire. It was a long gun. He was shooting from the window. He hit my house, from what I have counted, 15 times."

News 5 crews were on scene until the early hours of Thursday morning. Roger said he and his wife had to take cover inside their own home.

"I got her down on the floor, told her to stay down and crawled low. I haven't done that since I was in the Army," said Roger.

Roger said he has extensive damage at his house, many of his windows are shot through and cracked, now exposed in the bitter cold.

On Thursday, writing and drawings remained on the outside of the house, as well as an LED sign that read, "Fair warning, today will be the end."

Ward 12 Cleveland City Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer released this statement Thursday: "Overnight, a usually quiet intersection in the heart of Slavic Village was terrorized by an individual who barricaded himself inside a property and shot out of the second floor window into the street and into neighbors’ homes.

Cleveland Police and Cuyahoga County Sheriff SWAT units responded and endured a long, cold standoff late into the night. Cleveland Department of Police stated: “Following approximately eight hours of attempted negotiations, the barricaded individual began to actively shoot at officers and their occupied vehicles positioned outside the property. The Division of Police SWAT Unit returned fire toward the active shooter. Members then entered the residence, located the individual, and immediately began to render aid. The male was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Division is not aware of any additional injuries at this point.”

I extend my condolences to this man’s family. Even someone who makes horrific choices has loved ones who now must grapple with the events leading up to his death. Even more, I remain grateful that there were no physical injuries to law enforcement or to residents. However, we know that there are wounds we cannot see that the neighborhood will now need to heal.

We will need a thorough investigation into what happened in the hours, days, and weeks leading up to this event. This includes whether there were signs or prior reports of behavior indicating this individual should not have been able to own a gun. Unlike more than 20 other states, Ohio does not have a so-called “Red Flag” law on the books that would have given law enforcement a chance assess whether this individual could safely own a deadly weapon. Only a thorough investigation will truly show what happened here.

For now, I want to again thank the law enforcement officers who responded. To everybody who lives in the neighborhood: You are in my thoughts. Take care."

"I'm glad my wife doesn't have to worry about him anymore," said Roger.