A traffic stop turned chase that ended up on Case Western Reserve University's campus turned into a shooting involving two people and state troopers, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
At about 5:25 p.m., troopers tried to conduct a traffic stop on Woodland Avenue in downtown Cleveland after they saw a 2025 Kia K4 without a license plate.
OSHP stated that a trooper activated their emergency overhead lights, but the vehicle failed to stop and fled from the trooper.
Shortly after, a tire deflation device was used on the Kia, and an 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman left the vehicle and fled on foot. The two attempted to steal a Cadillac SUV and a Chevy SUV while showing a gun, but were unsuccessful, the state patrol said.
After the short foot chase, troopers made contact with the 18-year-old at 2121 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., where shots were fired and he was struck in the leg.
The 18-year-old was taken to the UH Cleveland Medical Center to receive treatment. A gun was recovered at the scene, OSHP said.
A second pursuit happened after the 19-year-old re-entered the Kia, but she was stopped shortly after and taken into custody, according to OSHP.
No troopers or law enforcement officers were injured.
Case Western Reserve University lifted a shelter-in-place order after it posted to X, saying there was a "possible shooting" on campus.
CWRU Alert: Law enforcement have apprehended the suspects who fled onto campus. All clear. Please check CWRU email for more info.
— Case Western Reserve (@cwru) August 27, 2025
Around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, an alert was sent saying to shelter in place or, if outside, to find a safe location.
According to a post from the university, there was a possible shooting on the campus, with the alleged suspect in the vicinity of Lot 1 and Case Quad.
CWRU Alert: Reports of Cleveland Police in possible shooting with suspect in vicinity of lot 1 and Case Quad. Shelter in place or, if outdoors, seek a safe location. Updates to follow.
— Case Western Reserve (@cwru) August 27, 2025
Around 6:15 p.m., the university gave the all clear and said the alleged suspects who fled onto campus have been apprehended.
The Cleveland Division of Police Force Investigation Team is investigating the incident.
Eriz Kaler, CWRU president, released a statement regarding the situation.
"I wanted to write this evening to first express my deepest gratitude to law enforcement officers—both Case Western Reserve University’s own and those outside the university—for protecting our campus this evening when two suspects fled onto our campus. These officers’ quick actions not only led to the apprehension of the suspects but also kept our community safe," said Kaler. "As this is now an active police investigation, the university cannot provide further details."
News 5 also spoke to CWRU students who call for the gun violence to end.
“As an international [student], I can only say the US doesn’t have as many problems as (the) rest of the world does, and these are all homegrown problems like guns. Like I think we can stop these things. We can stop gun violence,” said Nilay Gupta, a postdoctoral researcher.
Jordan Ernst told us it’s genuinely surreal after receiving an alert to shelter in place.
"When we initially got the call, we were like ‘Oh, it’s probably just another scare like that’ and then everyone’s phones started blowing up, and it was like ‘Oh my God, like this again’ and it’s real,” said Ernst, a third-year student.
Meanwhile, Molly Caldwell said it’s a lot to take in considering the school shooting in Minneapolis early Wednesday morning and hoaxes on other college campuses.
“It is really stressful trying to deal with somebody that’s like targeting you whether it’s specifically or not and trying to study at the same time,” said Caldwell, another third-year student.
