Lorain man fatally shot by Elyria police took woman hostage after armed robbery, high-speed chase (UPDATED, VIDEO)

NORTH OLMSTED — A Lorain man was shot and killed by an Elyria police officer after committing an armed robbery, leading police on a high-speed, two county chase and taking a mother hostage while her four children were in the home. Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said Wednesday evening that the man, a 31-year-old whom he declined to identify, died in the hospital after being shot at an apartment complex in North Olmsted. No police officers or bystanders were injured during the incident. Per Elyria department policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, or BCI, is investigating the shooting. The shooting came after police said the suspect abandoned his vehicle in North Olmsted and ran on foot into an apartment complex on Clareshire Drive. Welsh said that in the complex, the man took a mother of four hostage and forced her into her residence, where her four children were. The suspect was then shot and killed by the Elyria officer, who was not identified on Wednesday evening. The suspect's gun was found inside the woman's apartment. "The suspect saw an opportunity to use her and her children as a hostage… he was armed at the time and, you know, based on what I know at this point, that's why my officer had to use deadly force to neutralize a suspect from causing harm to the innocent hostage and her children," Welsh told a media scrum on Wednesday evening. Welsh said the death was a tragedy, but he believed his officer had done what was needed to protect himself, fellow officers, and the victim and her family. "He (the officer) is a hero," Welsh said. "...This was a serious situation from the start, it was a violent crime, a kidnapping, an armed robbery. The officers pursued the suspect and prevented him from harming anyone else. Like I said, this is a dangerous job, these guys face situations like this every day, and at this point I am proud of my officers, I am proud of all the officers that assisted in this situation and they saved lives today." According to police, the incident began at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, when the suspect approached a Brink's van which was at the AT&T store on West River Road North in Elyria and pulled a gun on the Brink's employee. Welsh said the suspect forced the woman into the van at gunpoint and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. During the initial investigation, police identified a vehicle they believed was involved in the armed robbery which was registered in Lorain, where it was found by Lorain police. Lorain officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but when it fled they gave chase. The suspect led police out of Lorain and into Elyria and Elyria Township, hitting speeds of up to 90 mph on Lake Avenue, before he entered onto state Route 20. The suspect took Route 20 eastbound through North Ridgeville before getting onto Interstate 480 at Lorain Road in North Ridgeville, police said. He then took I480 into North Olmsted, where he exited near Great Northern Mall. "The suspect showed no regard for the safety of motorists or pedestrians in the area, traveling at speeds over 100 mph," Welsh said. "Based on the offense, which was initially an armed robbery and a kidnapping at gunpoint, we allowed the pursuit to continue." The agencies involved included the police departments of Elyria, Lorain, North Olmsted, Fairview, Brook Park and the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. The car chase ended when North Olmsted police laid spike strips across Brookpark Road which temporarily disabled the suspect vehicle. At that point, Welsh said, the man fled into the area of the apartment complex, where he took the woman hostage. According to Welsh, the shooting occurred around the threshold of the apartment entryway, so he believed it began outside the apartment and spilled inside where the suspect's firearm, a .45 caliber handgun, was found. The woman and her family were evacuated from the building following the shooting and left the scene together after speaking with police. Welsh said that the suspect could not be identified Wednesday because his next of kin was still being notified, and he also said he could not share any details about any criminal history the suspect may have. Although BCI is handing the investigation of the shooting, Elyria police are still investigating the alleged armed robbery itself. "This is a tragic incident and there was a loss of life," Welsh said. "We extend our condolences to the suspect's family, and the case is ongoing." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.