EUCLID, Ohio — Euclid Police say an officer shot and killed a man armed with a rifle late Sunday night after responding to a domestic violence call.
It happened at a home in the 1400 block of East 219th Street just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, after a woman called 911 to report being assaulted.
According to Euclid Police, when officers arrived at the house, the caller was outside the home and had visible injuries. She told police that her 3-year-old child was inside with a man who had access to several guns.
Euclid Police said the man refused to come out when ordered, and officers then went inside the home to get the child.
"During the encounter, officers were confronted by a male suspect, who was armed with a loaded rifle," Euclid Police said in a news release. "An officer discharged their firearm, striking the suspect."
After the shooting, officers rendered first aid until EMS arrived and took the man to a nearby hospital, where he later died, police said.
According to the medical examiner's office, 37-year-old Robert J. Riddlebarger was transported from that location to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
"Officers know that any call for domestic violence situation has the potential for a lot of violence, and this is, sadly, one of those cases," Euclid Police Captain Donna Holden said.
Our overnight news tracker was there when the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner arrived.
Euclid Police said the officer who shot the suspect has been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave, per department policy.
The department said that it will not be releasing the officer's name, specific evidence details or body camera footage of the shooting to "protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure due process for all involved."
"The Euclid Police Department recognizes the serious nature of this incident and the concern it may cause within the community. The Department is committed to a thorough, fair, and transparent investigation and will release additional information as it becomes available and legally permissible to do so," the news release stated.
Ohio BCI was called in to handle the investigation.
