On May 25, Officer Jason West, 31, a seven-year veteran of the Cleveland Heights (Ohio) Police Department, was fatally shot while responding to a street fight at a large party.
West pulled in front of the suspect's car, blocking it in the driveway. When West exited his car, the suspect opened fire with a 9mm handgun from inside the parked car. The suspect then exited the car and shot West at close range, striking him in the leg and face. The suspect fled on foot, ditching his gun. Officers found the suspect hiding in a nearby house and took him into custody. West was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Four years before the incident, the suspect told his family he wanted to kill a police officer. He then threw a brick at a police car and assaulted an officer. He was later convicted of that crime and sentenced to probation.
This information was provided by the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America's fallen law enforcement officers. For more information on this incident, other line-of-duty death reports and law enforcement memorials, visit www.odmp.org.
