AKRON, Ohio — Akron police officers fatally shot a man on Monday morning after they were fired upon during a traffic stop involving a stolen car. The man was later identified as 39-year-old Marcus Leonard Smith.
The shooting happened shortly before 9 a.m. in the Summit Lake neighborhood on Ira Avenue near Lakeshore Boulevard. Just moments prior, officers spotted a stolen Toyota Camry near Kenmore and Lakeshore boulevards, and a short pursuit occurred, police said. The vehicle was later learned to be taken during a robbery in Columbus.
According to Akron Police Sgt. Utomhin Okoh, officers tried to stop the white Toyota.
"Several rounds were fired at them. They returned fire, striking the individual at least once. The officers did attempt to perform life-saving measures," Okoh said.
Officers administered first aid until EMS arrived and transported him to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Okoh said. Smith later died from his injuries.
One witness told News 5 he heard 20-30 gunshots.
"I knew something was going on. I heard the shots. I didn't know if somebody was goofing around or what, but I heard some different shots, and then I heard the police so I knew something was happening, and then, there was a final round of shots and that was it," said Robert Patterson.
A nearby resident went to the scene to find out if it was a family member who was shot.
"It's very scary because it's a crowded neighborhood right here, right now, and anybody could have been hit by a stray bullet at any time," said resident Randol Smith. "I just came down here to kind of see what's going on to make sure it was him or not."
No officers were injured, according to police.
Three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave while Ohio BCI investigates the shooting.
"Anytime something like this happens, it's tragic for both sides, the officers and the individual," Okoh said.
The investigation results will be turned over to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for review before being submitted to the Summit County Grand Jury for evaluation, which could take several weeks to a few months.
The Office of Profession Standards and Accountability will conduct a separate investigation. The outcome of that investigation will be given to the police chief and the Akron police auditor.
Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge No. 7 issued the following statement:
"One Akron Police Officer was shot at this morning by a suspect in a car as the officer attempted a traffic stop. The suspect then fired shots at more officers when he jumped out of the car after crashing it. His shots forced the officers to make a split-second decision and return fire, and they shot and killed him. This violent criminal caused his own senseless tragedy, and he endangered an entire neighborhood of innocent people. Akron FOP 7 is relieved that no officer or innocent bystander was injured. Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is handling this investigation and our members are cooperating."
