Crime & Safety

Man Who Shot At, Was Fatally Shot By Middlefield Police Officers Was From Mentor-On-The-Lake

James Gilkerson is accused of shooting two Middlefield Police officers before he was fatally shot by police during an attempted traffic stop

Several news outlets are reporting that the man who is accused of shooting two police officers before he was fatally shot by Middlefield Police is James Gilkerson of Mentor-on-the-Lake.

At about 6 p.m. Sunday, Gilkerson, 42, was driving on Old State Road in Middlefield when a cruiser signalled for him to pull over.

Before the two officers could get out of their cruiser, Gilkerson got out of his vehicle and began shooting at them, Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland told The News-Herald.

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The officers fired back and, in the crossfire, both the two officers involved and Gilkerson were struck by bullets.

A female officer sustained serious gunshot injuries to her left hand fingers, shrapnel was imbedded into her right wrist and a gunshot wound to her left thigh, according to a news release issued jointly by Middle Police Chief Arnold Stanko and Mayor Ben Garlich.

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She underwent surgery at MetroHealth Medical Center to repair her injuries and remained hospitalized overnight for observation.

A male officer sustained minor injuries to his left knee from flying fragments. He was treated and released from University Hospital in Geauga and is at home healing.

The news release said the driver of the car -- who, once again, is thought to be Gilkerson -- initiated the shooting and used a semiautomatic rifle.

At the end of the gun battle, Gilkerson died from from the gunshot wounds he sustained.

The investigation is being conducted by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is processing the shooting scene.

McClelland told WKYC that the Middlefield officers had no reason to think the traffic stop would not be routine when they signalled for the driver to pull over.

Additionally, investigators are still trying to determine how many shots were fired in total during the gunfight.


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