One dead after gunman fires into crowd outside club on Cleveland's east side

CLEVELAND - Police are investigating the circumstances behind a shooting on Cleveland's east side early Monday morning that left one person dead.

The incident started at about 2:25 a.m. in a parking lot near a club called Sir-rah House, located off Lee Road and Judson Drive.

Cleveland police said officers noticed a large fight that included about 200 people. During the brawl, police said they saw a man pull out a handgun and fire several shots in the direction of an officer and into the crowd, hitting one man in the chest.

The person hit was a 21-year-old man, who was hit four times in the chest and died, police said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office later identified him as Damon Woodard of Cleveland.

The gunman, according to police, ran away and tried to hide in the backyard of a nearby home, but an officer followed.

During the foot chase, police said the suspect twice reached into his waistband, turned toward the officer and fired shots. The officer returned fire, discharging his weapon twice.

The officer caught up to the suspect, arrested him and recovered his handgun. Neither was hit during the shooting.

Evidence markers were placed all over the parking lot, and investigators took photos to document the shooting scene.

No names have been released yet.

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