An Akron police officer was found to have used justifiable force when he shot and killed a 21-year-old robbery suspect in 2015, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.
According to the prosecutor's office, an investigation revealed that the suspect—21-year-old William Lemmon—did not comply with officers and reached into the waistband of his pants before making a sudden move toward officers.
Lemmon was shot and killed by police on Sept. 25, 2015. Police were called for a report of an aggravated robbery at Bista Brothers Asian Market on North Main Street that afternoon.
The store clerk told police that a white man and a black man entered the store and the black man approached one of the employees, pointed a gun at the clerk's head and demanded money.
A customer threw her purse across the counter at the gunmen and the suspects grabbed it and ran out of the store.
An hour later, the white suspect—Lemmon—was found less than two blocks away in the back parking lot of several businesses.
Police said he refused to comply with orders to show his hands.
According to the prosecutor's office, he screamed obscenities at officers and said the officers were going to have to shoot him.
He then reportedly placed his hands inside the front portion of his pants and made sudden movement toward the officers.
Officer Brian Armstead shot Lemmon, who later died at the hospital.
“Mr. Lemmon was a suspect in an armed robbery when police found him hiding behind a building. He did not comply with the officers’ orders to show his hands and surrender,” said Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. “The officers believed Mr. Lemmon had a weapon and felt threatened when he lunged at them. Officer Armstead acted within his authority and was legally justified when he shot and killed Mr. Lemmon.”
