LORAIN, Ohio — An armed suspect is dead after being shot by members of the Lorain Police Department during an incident on Friday morning.
According to a release from the Lorain Police Department, around 9:15 a.m., officers were called to the Evergreen Village Apartment complex rental office in the 2600 block of Meister Road for reports of an armed man who had threatened at least one citizen.
Upon arrival, police determined that a nearby suspect vehicle belonged to 49-year-old Christopher Boggess. Lorain officers had been working on securing an arrest warrant for Boggess due to threats he had made against police a day earlier.
As police were gathering equipment, including a ballistic shield, Boggess emerged from the office and was walking towards three Lorain officers. Police say he was ordered several times to get on the ground, but Boggess did not comply and took out a pistol from his front jacket pocket.
As a result of Boggess pointing his gun at police, officers fired their weapons, wounding him several times before he fell to the ground. Lorain police began providing first aid, while calling for an ambulance. Boggess was taken to MercyHealth Lorain Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"This is a tragedy for all involved," Lorain Police Chief James McCann said in a statement. "We understand and appreciate the public's concern whenever an officer is faced with the difficult, split-second decision to defend himself and others against an armed suspect."
On Thursday afternoon, Boggess entered Lorain City Hall and requested several reports from the Lorain Police Department Records office. Police say he became irate after being assisted, then threatened several employees and was asked to leave. As Boggess departed, he commented to police that he would return and that officers "better be wearing (their) bulletproof vests." Boggess made a similar threat to police auxiliary officers that were working security at the entrance to city hall.
Investigators also report that Boggess fired a round on Meister Road near Collins Drive at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Friday morning. He also pointed his gun at a citizen outside of Lorain City Hall at 8:52 a.m.
No officers or bystanders were injured as a result of the shooting. The Lorain police officers who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, per department policy.
The Lorain County Sheriff's Office will conduct the criminal investigation into the incident. A separate, parallel investigation is being done by the Lorain Police Department's Office of Professional Standards.
McCann says the department will provide more information to the public "as soon as it's confirmed."
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