Suspect Dead After Multi-Agency Task Force Confrontation at West 117th Staples

A suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon outside the Staples store on West 117th Street in Cleveland. The incident occurred during a federal “narcotics investigation” when a suspect wielding a knife was shot by two Medina County sheriff’s deputies.

Police

Cleveland Police spokesperson Sergeant Diaz stated officers were assigned to a Homeland Security Investigation (HSI)/Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) task force conducting a narcotics investigation at 2150 West 117th Street. At approximately 4:29 p.m., two of the officers encountered a man with a knife, which led them to shoot him.

The two deputies involved in the shooting were members of a combined task force working with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations unit and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

The Cleveland Division of Police Use of Force Investigation Team is leading the investigation into the incident.

Emergency Response

Cleveland EMS responded to a call for a gunshot wound at the Staples location. The victim, approximately 45 years old, was pronounced dead on arrival at the scene.

The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Staples on West 117th and Berea Road in Cleveland’s West Side.

Investigation

Several local and federal law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including the Department of Homeland Security, Cleveland Division of Police, and sheriff’s departments from both Medina and Cuyahoga counties.

Sergeant Diaz indicated more information will be released as the investigation progresses.