CLEVELAND — De'Lawnte Hardy — the man who allegedly shot and killed Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter on July 4 — has now been indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury for murdering both Ritter and Hardy's grandmother, Beatrice Porter.
The 24-year-old Hardy was indicted on the following charges:
- Three counts of aggravated murder
- Two counts of attempted aggravated murder
- One count of murder
- Four counts of felonious assault
- Two counts of aggravated robbery
- Two counts of receiving stolen property
- One count of having weapons while under disability
- One count of theft
- One count of resisting arrest
- One count of misdemeanor theft
In the indictment, the state says it reserves the right to potentially seek the death penalty against Hardy at a later date.
"In the course of a week, Delawnte Hardy caused unimaginable damage and grief to two families, our law enforcement community, and our entire region," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley. "My office will walk step by step with these two families to ensure justice is served. My thoughts and prayers remain with those grieving from this tragic situation."
Hardy is currently being held on a $5 million bond since his initial appearance in Cleveland Municipal Court back on July 5. He will be arraigned in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on July 15 at 8:30 a.m.
SHOOTING DEATH OF OFFICER RITTER
It was in the early morning hours on the Fourth of July when officer Ritter was among those who responded to the 1500 block of East 80th Street amid a search for Hardy, who was wanted for felonious assault in Garfield Heights after allegedly shooting his own grandmother days earlier.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office reports that Cleveland police officers placed a spotlight on the residence after arriving at the scene. "During the next couple minutes, Officer Ritter instructed Hardy six times over a loudspeaker to exit the residence out the front door with his hands up. Hardy then began to flee out the back door of the residence on his grandfather’s bicycle with two swords and the firearm he stole from his grandmother," officials added.
As Hardy rode away, prosecutors note that several officers attempted to arrest him. During a struggle, Hardy is alleged to have fired four shots at multiple officers. The first shot struck Ritter, according to prosecutors.
Officer Ritter later died at a nearby hospital. He was honored with a memorial service in Cleveland on July 8. You can watch the full ceremony in the video below.
HARDY'S GRANDMOTHER
According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Hardy was staying with his 63-year-old grandmother, Beatrice Porter, at her home in Garfield Heights on June 28. While inside the house, investigators say Hardy stole her gun and shot her in the back of the head. He then apparently fled the scene on his grandfather's bicycle.
At 1 a.m. the following morning, officials say a family member arrived at the Reindeer Avenue home and found Porter laying in a pool of blood. Upon their arrival, police found Porter was unresponsive with shallow breathing.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said Porter died from her injuries days later on July 4 — the same day that Officer Ritter was shot and killed.
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