HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) - A grand jury has ruled that a southwest Ohio police officer was justified in fatally shooting a shotgun-toting suspect who was intent on “suicide by cop.”
The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office said the grand jury last week cleared Huber Heights officer Brett Thornton in the killing of 39-year-old Shannon Spencer during a standoff last Oct. 14.
The Dayton Daily News (https://bit.ly/1n8t5pX ) reports Spencer’s wife told officers she had fled the home after her husband, who was intoxicated inside with a firearm, had made threats to harm himself.
After officers communicated with Spencer, they say he made “suicide by cop” threats. Spencer came out carrying a shotgun and was shot by Thornton after refusing numerous commands to drop the gun.
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Information from: Dayton Daily News, https://www.daytondailynews.com
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