A late-night 911 call about a woman screaming ended in deadly gunfire Thursday in West Chester Township, where police forced their way into an apartment off West Chester Road and shot a man during a confrontation in a bedroom, township officials said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Officers Say Happened Inside
According to FOX19, officers were dispatched around 9:50 p.m. to the 9000 block of Zinnia Court after a neighbor reported hearing a woman screaming inside an apartment. Police conducted what they described as a protective sweep of the unit, where they encountered an adult man in a bedroom. Township spokeswoman Barb Wilson said the situation escalated into an officer-involved shooting inside that room.
Who Was Hurt And Who Responded
WLWT reports that the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Butler County coroner responded to the scene and worked through the night as part of the investigation. The woman connected to the initial 911 call was taken to UC Hospital West Chester with injuries described as non-life-threatening and has since been released, officials said.
Investigation And Oversight
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was also called in and processed the scene, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the inquiry continues, according to the township spokeswoman. Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser told FOX19 he was notified late Thursday, praised BCI for its quick response, and described domestic-violence-related calls as “one of the most dangerous parts of police work.” He added that he typically refers officer-involved shootings to a grand jury for review.
Local Context
West Chester Township has already been under a microscope over policing issues in recent years. A former township officer was charged and later sentenced for evidence tampering in a death probe. Township officials said they plan to release additional information on Thursday night’s shooting when they can do so without jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.
