A 37-year-old Lorain man who was suspected of robbery was shot and killed by an Elyria Police officer on Wednesday after officers said he attempted to take a mother and her four children hostage, according to Elyria Police Chief James Welsh.
Around 3:02 p.m., Elyria Police officers responded to an AT&T at 1547 West River Rd. North in reference to an aggravated robbery involving a BRINKS truck, police said.
"Forced her into the Brinks van and robbed her at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of money," said Welsh.
Welsh said the vehicle from that robbery was spotted in Lorain, but when police tried to pull the SUV over, the driver took off, according to investigators.
Welsh said the chase crossed Lorain County and into Cuyahoga County, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour at times, before North Olmsted police deployed spike strips, and the car was later immobilized on Brookpark Road.
Welsh said the 37-year old driver then jumped out of the SUV and ran into a nearby apartment complex off Clareshire Drive.
"There was another innocent civilian who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Welsh. "The suspect saw an opportunity to use her and her children as a hostage."
The chief said an officer shot and killed the man, later identified as John P. Johnson, in response to what they called a deadly threat.
According to the department, no officers or civilians were injured, and there is no threat to the area.
Police said a .45 caliber handgun believed to belong to the suspect was found inside the woman's apartment.
Investigators said they also found a large amount of cash inside the man's car.
Court records show Johnson was previously convicted of drug and weapons charges in Lorain County and was released from prison last February after serving time for aggravated robbery.
Investigators have not named the officer who shot and killed the suspect.
The investigation into the shooting has been turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The officer who shot the man has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
But Welsh praised the officer on Wednesday.
"He's a hero," said the chief. "This was a serious situation from the start. A violent crime, a kidnapping, a robbery. The officer pursued this suspect and prevented him from harming anyone else."
Thursday, a neighbor said the woman, her husband and their children were staying elsewhere, shaken by what happened.
Another neighbor, Joel Alsouss, said BCI agents collected video from his surveillance camera as evidence.
Like many neighbors, he called what happened on his street "shocking" and said he now worries about his safety.
"Anywhere, anytime, in any city," said Alsouss. "It's pshew, it can happen anywhere."
On Thursday, the Elyria Police Department released the following statement:
"The Elyria Police Department is aware of significant public and media interest regarding the officer-involved shooting that occurred following the aggravated robbery incident on January 21, 2026.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. In keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability while also ensuring the integrity of the investigative process, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), a division of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, has been requested to conduct the independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
The Elyria Police Department issued a media release on January 21, 2026, outlining the circumstances leading up to the incident. Additionally, Chief James Welsh provided a detailed public statement to the media. Due to the ongoing nature of the aggravated robbery investigation within Elyria, no additional details will be released at this time beyond what has already been shared.
To preserve the integrity of BCI’s independent investigation, the Elyria Police Department will not provide further comment or information regarding the officer-involved shooting."
