Grand jury clears Ohio police officers in fatal shooting

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A grand jury in Ohio has cleared police in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed a gun at an officer’s head, a county prosecutor said Thursday.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the grand jury, which met Wednesday, reviewed body camera footage showing the events prior to Fairfield police officers shooting Tyler Jones, 24, in the parking lot of an apartment complex on March 6.

Officers had gone to the complex for a domestic violence call and a report that Jones had stolen a car and a gun from his girlfriend. When officers confronted Jones, he refused to show his hands, began walking away and then pulled out a handgun, Gmoser said.

The gun apparently slipped out of Jones’ hands and skidded across the pavement, Gmoser said. Officers unsuccessfully tried to immobilize Jones with a stun gun as he chased after the weapon. Jones dove for the gun and pointed it an officer, who opened fire along with other officers, Gmoser said.

The shooting was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Fairfield is roughly 27 miles (43 kilometers) north of downtown Cincinnati.