WHITEHALL, Ohio — The Whitehall Division of Police identified a suspect who was fatally shot by at least one officer early Friday morning.
According to a release, two officers heard gunfire coming from the area of East Main Street and South Hamilton Road near the Roses Store parking lot around 2 a.m. At the same time, the Flock Gunshot Detection System alerted officers to gunshots in the same area.
Officers arrived at the parking lot and saw two vehicles - a parked silver Honda Pilot and a dark-colored SUV which was leaving the area. Police said the two officers approached the Honda to investigate the shots fired and check on the occupants.
Officers found two Hispanic men in the front seats of the Honda. Police said there was a language barrier between the officers and the occupants. While trying to speak to the men, the officers saw a handgun in the SUV. Police said the officers told the men, in English and Spanish, to put their hands up.
The driver of the SUV, 35-year-old William Morales Villatoro, complied, but police said the passenger, 36-year-old Santiago Elias Alfaro Munoz, did not comply. Police said the Munoz went for the handgun and back toward the officer. At that point, both officers fired shots at Munoz, striking him at least once. It's unclear if both officers struck Munoz.
Officers attempted life-saving measures on Munoz and turned him over to medics who took him to Mount Carmel East Hospital where he later died. It's unclear how many times he was shot.
Police said several guns were found inside the Honda. Villatoro was arrested on one felony count of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
"This was a dangerous but tragic situation,” said Chief Mike Crispen. “Our officers are trained to respond to threats of violence, especially when guns are involved. Our prayers are with the families of both the deceased and our officers.”
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation into the shooting.
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