A 61-year-old man was fatally shot by an Akron police officer when police say the man pulled out an assault rifle following an altercation in a Kenmore neighborhood on Sunday afternoon.
Police say the man died after being transported to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center.
Officers were responding to reports of a fight with injuries in the 1000 block of Florida Avenue around 3:30 p.m., according to police. The caller reported that he had been in a fight with his neighbor and had his arm slammed in a car door by the 61-year-old.
Officers said when they arrived at the scene, they found the man in the back parking lot of the apartment building. Police said he was walking toward a van parked in the lot. When he reached the van, police say he reached for an assault rifle.
Officers said they shouted for the man to stop and not touch the rifle. Police say the man refused to obey and pulled the rifle from the van. One officer opened fire, hitting him in the torso.
Police confirmed that no officers were injured during the incident. The officer who opened fire has been with the Akron Police Department for nearly two years. He will be placed on administrative leave, per departmental policy.
Police say the incident is still under investigation and the name of the deceased is being withheld pending identification and family notification.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.