CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Division of Police has provided more information about the overnight standoff in the Slavic Village neighborhood that led to the death of the suspected 36-year-old shooter.
According to a release, at around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Cleveland police officers in the division's Fourth District received a ShotSpotter alert and multiple calls about shots heard in the 7700 block of Spafford Road. Initial reports also included shots fired into homes and into a passing vehicle.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a man armed with a "long gun" had barricaded himself inside his home. While officers created a perimeter, members of the Cleveland Division of Police SWAT Unit, Crisis Negotiation Team, and Cuyahoga County’s Sheriff SWAT Unit responded to the scene.
After eight hours of attempted negotiations, police say the man barricading himself inside the house began to shoot at officers and their occupied vehicles positioned outside the property. According to the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the incident, Cleveland police returned fire and the suspect was hit.
The man was taken by Cleveland EMS to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. He was identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office as 36-year-old Robert Perkins.
No other injuries have been reported.
During the standoff, 3News learned that power was cut off to the home at one point.
3News' Carmen Blackwell and Bri Buckley reported that the home had a scrolling marquee out front that read: "Fair warning. Today will be the end."
A woman who did not want to be identified told 3News that Perkins used to start fires outside his home. Last summer, the flames got out of control and nearly engulfed their house.
On Thursday afternoon, Cleveland City Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer released the following statement about the shooting in her Ward 12 neighborhood.
"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.
"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."