State agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are reviewing a tense deputy-involved shooting in Dorset Township after an Ashtabula County deputy fired a single round at an allegedly intoxicated man who refused to drop a rifle. Authorities say the man, who was yelling "kill me...kill me," was found in a backyard on Footville‑Richmond Road. Deputies rendered first aid at the scene, and the man was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Sheriff William Niemi told the FOX 8 I‑Team that deputies repeatedly ordered the man to drop the rifle before one deputy opened fire. The I‑Team report, based on a media release from the sheriff's office, notes that the shot knocked the man to the ground while the rifle stayed in his hands and that deputies immediately provided medical aid, according to FOX 8 I‑Team.
What Happened at the Scene
According to the media release cited by FOX 8, deputies were dispatched after a 911 call reported a domestic incident and found the man in the backyard with a rifle. "We called agents with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting," Sheriff Niemi told the FOX 8 I‑Team, adding that the man was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injury, per FOX 8 I‑Team.
BCI Will Lead the Probe
The Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Force Investigations Unit, which handles officer‑involved critical incidents, will conduct the criminal inquiry. The unit is responsible for collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and preparing an investigative file for prosecutors. Public guidance from the unit explains that BCI runs an independent criminal investigation and then turns its findings over to prosecutors rather than deciding on any charges itself, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, BCI.
Local Context
Ashtabula County has seen other deputy‑involved incidents in recent years that prompted state scrutiny, one reason local agencies frequently request outside investigators. Coverage of prior shootings in the county shows a pattern of BCI involvement that residents and officials often cite when calling for independent reviews, according to NewsChannel 5.
The sheriff's office and BCI have not released further details about administrative leave or possible charges. The county's sheriff webpage lists Sheriff William R. Niemi as the department contact for press inquiries, per the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office. Hoodline will update this report as investigators release more information.
