CLEVELAND — Five Cleveland Police officers are recovering after a shooting led to a pursuit Saturday afternoon, according to the Cleveland Division of Police.
Just after 2 p.m., police responded to the 5200 block of Fleet Avenue after a man in his 30s was shot multiple times, police said.
Surveillance video provided to News 5 from Open Pantry shows the victim walking into the business, then collapsing to the floor shortly after.
"A guy was walking right here, and he dropped on the floor by the door. And he said, 'George, I've been shot. I've been shot in my back and my arm outside.' He came with his friend, and I called 911 for him to help him," Open Pantry owner, George Abounader said.
Abounader said the 33-year-old, who was shot, is a regular customer of Open Pantry.
"He comes over here all the time. He's a good kid. He's a regular customer," he said. "It's usually quiet right here. I mean, nothing much going on."
More surveillance video shows EMS showing up to Open Pantry shortly after the man entered the business. The man was transported to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition.
As officers were investigating the shooting scene, they observed a car circling the area. They obtained information that suggested the car was being driven by a 24-year-old who was allegedly involved in the shooting that left the 33-year-old injured, police said.
Things escalated when the 24-year-old opened fire near the scene. Police said they believe the man fired several shots at the officers before fleeing the scene.
One officer was injured by what police believe to be shrapnel-related bullet impacts that struck the vehicle, Cleveland Police said.
Shortly after, with the Real Time Crime Center's assistance, officers found the 24-year-old's car near Track Road and Martin Avenue, CPD said.
The vehicle fled, and the driver fired at officers again, hitting the windshield of a police cruiser. A second officer sustained injuries consistent with a graze wound from a bullet or shrapnel.
Police said one officer shot back at the man in response to the initial gunfire.
Officers continued the pursuit to arrest the 24-year-old, which ended after the suspect crashed into a church building on Chagrin Boulevard, police said.
The 24-year-old tried to flee on foot, but was taken into custody, police said.
Both officers who were injured as a result of gunfire were taken to the hospital. One is in stable condition, and the other was treated and released.
According to police, during the pursuit, two officers were involved in separate crashes.
One cruiser struck a tree, and another crashed near East 75th Street and Kinsman Road. Both officers were transported to the hospital and are in stable condition.
The officer involved in the crash near East 75th Street self-transported to the hospital for evaluation after refusing EMS.
The 24-year-old man was taken to the hospital for evaluation and is expected to be released and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail. Charges are still pending, police said.
The Cleveland Police Force Investigation Team and the Cleveland Police Accident Investigation Unit will investigate the incident.
A bullet hole-filled cruiser was seen being towed from one of the locations Saturday night.
Another car with bullets was also on the scene.
'I definitely want more support'
The Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association said the five injured officers are now at home recovering after being injured during the wild scene.
Its president, Andy Gasiewski, said from the information he’s gotten, the 24-year-old shooter forced officers into that chase, a chase that, in his mind, was done correctly.
"He was an active, fleeing felon, and he continued to put society in danger and everyone at risk on the roadway by the way he drove and crashing into cars,” said Gasiewski.
He also had sharp criticism of the city’s mayor and police chief after five cops were injured over the weekend, and the administration didn’t show up in person.
"I definitely want more support. They should be there. They should respond,” said Gasiewski. “Not just in a simple statement, a general public safety statement, but to say hey, we’re backing these folks.”
News 5 contacted the city for a reaction to his criticism. We didn’t hear back. We asked Cleveland Police for the names of the officers, the person they took into custody, and the charges that person will face. We were told no updates just yet on all that.
However, after our story aired Monday evening, CPD Public Information Officer Freddie Diaz sent the following statement to News 5 in response to Gasiewski's criticism:
"Chief Todd did respond to the hospital to check on the officers. In fact, she’s spent a couple hours there. Also, her Deputy Chief, responded to the scene to check on officers there. Additionally, the Fourth District Commander, who had just returned from vacation, also responded to the scene."
