An investigation is underway into whether the system in place to save a man, almost cost him his life after he was shot 16 times on Cleveland's east side over the weekend.
The shooting happened in Cleveland but he ended up outside city limits, raising questions about who was going to take him to the hospital.
Cleveland police just launched an internal investigation after some of its officers told their counterparts in Euclid that paramedics in Cleveland would not transport the victim because he was no longer in their city.
The shooting happened Sunday evening as the man was pulling out of a driveway on Pawnee Avenue around 6 p.m.
The victim's girlfriend said she heard several gunshots and, when she looked outside, she saw a man in a gray hoodie firing at her boyfriend with an "assault rifle," according to the police report.
The shooting suspect took off on East 188th Street on foot. The victim then drove eastbound on Pawnee Avenue toward East 200th Street.
Fourteen shell casings and two bullet fragments were discovered by officers in the front yard. Officers also discovered footprints in the backyard—leading investigators to think the suspect was waiting for the victim to leave the house.
Dash cam video shows a Euclid police officer pulling up to an SUV riddled with bullet holes and a bloodied man walking toward his squad car.
Medical staff confirmed the victim was shot twice in the right side of his chest, once in right shoulder blade, three times in the right knee, three times in the right shoulder, three times in right hand, twice in the left knee and twice in the left foot.
Cleveland police advised Euclid officers the man was a victim from a shooting they were investigating. Despite being in need of first aid, Cleveland EMS would not transport him to the hospital, according to the police report.
With Cleveland being out of the picture, Euclid tried getting their paramedics but dispatchers said there weren't any available and help from South Euclid would take too long.
That's when Cleveland police put the man int he back of one of their squad cars. A Euclid officer sat in the back seat to administer first aid on the way to the hospital.
Right now, it's not clear, because of the internal investigation, if proper protocol was followed.
News 5 obtained the list of EMS procedures from the City of Cleveland on Wednesday.
The list shows EMS can provide medical help and transportation to the hospital is the suburb they are in does not have any paramedics available.
