BROOKLYN, Ohio — A call to Parma Police for a welfare check at a man's home ended with him being shot outside a business on Brookpark Road, according to a statement from Brooklyn Police that called the incident an "officer involved shooting."
Just before 1 p.m., Parma officers responded to a welfare check for a suicidal man, who was "likely armed," according to Brooklyn Police.
Police found 29-year-old Ricardo Davis from Parma driving westbound on Brookpark Road near Hauserman Road, according to Brooklyn Police. Officers initiated a traffic stop, but he did not stop until reaching Commerce Parkway.
Rodney Tommer said he watched the entire incident unfold.
"We hit the light right in front of the IHOP, and we saw three police cruisers following the suspect. I was on [the] right, first car at the light. Three officers got behind him and on the side of him and kind of blocked him in," Tommer said. "I was sitting there, the officers hopped out of the car, doors open, guns drawn, and where I was, I was in the line of fire if the suspect were to get out."
Upon stopping, Brooklyn Police said Davis reached into his backseat before exiting the vehicle, and then he "approached officers and was shot."
Tommer said he heard a total of six gunshots.
"Rapid fire," he described. "It was a full clip within probably three seconds. 'Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow,' and that was it. I was pretty shaken up being so close to the situation. You just feel for everybody involved. The officer who pulled the trigger, he wasn't expecting going to work today, having to deal with, you know, taking somebody's life. And then for the guy who lost his life, that's sad, too. His family's hurting, suffering."
Parma Police later said in a news release that Davis was armed with a gun and had made "suicidal statements."
According to Parma Police, "Officers were unable to locate the male at his residence but observed items indicating he may have been planning to harm himself. Officers subsequently located the male in the area of Brookpark Road west of Hauserman Road. During the encounter, the male exited his vehicle while armed with a firearm and did not comply with officers’ commands. An officer-involved shooting ensued."
No officers were hurt in the shooting.
According to Parma Police, officers provided first aid to Davis, who was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
"As soon as he dropped, the officers immediately rushed right to him, tried to help him out, CPR until the paramedics came. By that time, it was just too late," Tommer said. "They did the right thing, and they rushed to the victim as he was down to help them out, so they were very professional in that manner."
Tommer said it's worrisome to see continuous violence.
"It's just sad with all the kids, the new generation coming up, they have to see all this going on," Tommer said Tuesday night. "That's just something I didn't wanna see or witness. I don't want really anybody to have to witness that. Society just needs to come together more, and if there's people out there who see people with mental health issues, please get them help because this is going on way too much and too often. Please reach out, try to get people help if they need it."
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to investigate the shooting. The Brooklyn Police Department is assisting with the investigation.
