RAVENNA, Ohio – A fatal police-involved shooting is under investigation in Ravenna following an incident on the Portage County Hike and Bike Trail on Tuesday morning.
The Ravenna Police Department reported that the event unfolded around 11:45 a.m. when a witness on the trail discovered a stabbing victim and alerted authorities. Four officers responded to the scene and were informed by the witness of the situation.
Captain Jake Smallfield of the Ravenna Police indicated that the alleged attacker emerged from a nearby wooded area carrying an ax. As the suspect approached the officers, a confrontation ensued. This resulted in the suspect of the stabbing being shot and killed by police.
Both the victim and the alleged attacker were residents of a nearby encampment, a locale familiar to local homeless communities. The stabbing’s cause remains uncertain, although early police assessments suggest a possible altercation between the two men.
The individual who suffered stab wounds was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. He is reportedly in stable condition.
As a precaution, authorities have temporarily closed the section of the trail between Freedom Street and Loomis Parkway. Despite the incident, police have assured the public there is no ongoing threat, emphasizing that the altercation appeared to be isolated.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation unfolds.