CLEVELAND — Cleveland police said they are "deeply concerned" by the circumstances surrounding a deadly shooting involving a 22-year-old Cleveland police officer who was off-duty on Thursday.
In their statement, they said "the off-duty officer does not appear to have been acting in an official law enforcement capacity" when he shot and killed a 26-year-old man Wednesday night.
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The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting. Deputies confirmed multiple individuals fired shots but did not provide additional details, including the name of the shooter, the name of the victim, or the names of other individuals who were involved in the incident.
What happened
Cleveland Police officers said they responded to calls of shots fired at Park Place Apartments, located on the 1400 block of East Boulevard on Cleveland's East Side, around 8 p.m.
They said a verbal argument "escalated into gunfire."
Police said the off-duty Cleveland police officer shot the 26-year-old man in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
Cleveland Police said first responders rendered first aid when they arrived. The shooting victim was then rushed to University Hospitals, where he later died.
Cleveland Police said a gun recovered at the scene is believed to belong to the shooting victim.
The officer was not injured.
A witness, who said he was friends with the victim, told News 5 Investigators that he was called to the scene to de-escalate the situation.
When he arrived, he said both his friend and the officer had guns in their hands.
"I came down here unarmed, trying to calm down my friend down," he said. "But by the time I get to really come all the way down here to like get here ... all I know is the off duty officer shot him."
"I watch my friend fall to the ground. Shot," he said.
Cleveland police statement
"On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at approximately 7:53 p.m., officers from the Cleveland Division of Police Third District responded to the 1400 block of East Boulevard for a report of shots fired and a male shot.
Upon arrival, officers located a 26-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began rendering first aid until Cleveland EMS arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Preliminary information indicates a verbal altercation occurred involving several individuals and escalated to gunfire.
During the initial investigation, detectives learned that a 22-year-old male involved in the incident is an off-duty Cleveland police officer.
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office was notified and responded in accordance with the City Charter and Consent Decree requirements. Based on the information currently available, the off-duty officer does not appear to have been acting in an official law enforcement capacity at the time of the incident.
We are deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding this incident and the actions of the individuals involved. The Cleveland Division of Police holds its members to a high standard, both on and off duty.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation."
Cuyahoga Co. Sheriff's Office statement
"The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating a shooting involving an off-duty member of the Cleveland Division of Police. On May 20, Sheriff’s Department Investigators received a call to respond to the 1400 block of East Boulevard for an off-duty Cleveland Police officer involved in a shooting. On arrival, CCSD investigators were met by CDP investigators.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 8:00 p.m., Cleveland Police responded to the parking lot near 1435-1451 East Boulevard for a male shot. Cleveland Fire and EMS rendered aid to the 26-year-old male and transported him to University Hospitals where he was later pronounced deceased. The initial investigation reveals shots were fired on the scene by multiple individuals, one of whom was identified as an off-duty member of the Cleveland Division of Police.
Members of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department responded to process the scene, collect evidence, and review available video footage.
The investigation remains active and is being conducted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau. Upon completion, the facts and findings will be presented to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office for review."
