Mike DeWine: Cleveland police chase, shooting investigation may take at least 2 more weeks

CLEVELAND - Community leaders may not be happy if what Attorney General Mike DeWine said is true while at the Cleveland Police Department training facility Monday afternoon. The gun residue results may not tell us if Timothy Russell or Malissa Williams fired a shot from Russell’s car.

"A person can get this residue on their hands not only by firing a gun, but also if they are in close proximity to a gun," DeWine explained from the West 58th Street training center in Cleveland. "So I would not anticipate that whatever we find out on their hands is going to be conclusive as to whether or not they ever had a gun or ever fired a gun."

Two hundred pieces of evidence have been collected and turned over to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation crime lab according to DeWine. “We've processed the descendants car and collected evidence from the car." But what evidence was collected wasn't discussed in detail.

Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were killed after a chase ensued when a Cleveland police officer thought the two fired a shot out of Russell’s car when they passed the Justice Center. The chase would go in for 25 minutes ending in East Cleveland.

Thirteen officers fired 137 rounds, with 23 bullets going into Russell and 24 into Williams. No gun or shell casings were found inside Russell’s car.

The ACLU wrote a letter last week to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty asking him to remove himself because of his close work with the police department. DeWine said he doubted McGinty would ask to be replaced.

DeWine feels the investigation can proceed in a fair way with the current people in place.

"My assurance to everyone in the community and law enforcement is that we are going to call it like we see it and let the facts take us where the facts take us."

The investigation is expected to last at least another two weeks. DeWine said when the report is complete, he will hold a news conference.