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Akron suspect dies in officer involved shooting

Posted at 5:20 PM, Sep 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-18 23:16:29-04

An officer involved shooting took place around 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon in Akron.

According to Akron police, a 61-year-old man was in a fight with his neighbor at an apartment building on Florida Avenue. The victim said he had his arm slammed in a car door by the man and called police and paramedics. 

When officers arrived at the scene the 61-year-old suspect walked toward a van parked in the lot and allegedly reached for an assault rifle. According to police, they gave verbal commands for the suspect to stop, but the suspect pulled out the rifle anyway.

"At that point the officer had nothing else to do but to fire shots at the suspect," Lt. Rick Edwards told newsnet5.com. 

He said one of the two officers on the scene fired shots, striking the suspect in the torso. 

A neighbor who witnessed the shooting told newsnet5.com that she believed the shooting was justified. 

"The officer told him to drop his weapon three or four times," said neighbor Kathy Trimble.  

The suspect was transported to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center and later died. 

No officers were injured during the altercation, and the officer who was involved is on paid administrative leave. 

The incident is under further investigation.