PARMA, Ohio — Parma police have released new details after a shelter in place advisory was activated for residents Wednesday night in the vicinity of Pearl Road and Velma Avenue.
In a press release Thursday afternoon, Parma police said the situation started when their department received information that a murder suspect was possibly in the area.
That man – identified as 38-year-old Jonathan Crago – was suspected of killing two women in Lowellville (near Youngstown), police noted.
Officers say they spotted the suspect's vehicle around 9:24 p.m. driving northbound on Ridge Road near Brownfield Drive. When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, police say the driver fled.
After police used a spike strip, the vehicle continued into Brooklyn Heights where authorities say Crago struck a Brooklyn Heights police cruiser before turning back into Parma.
At this point, the Ohio State Highway Patrol took over the pursuit where Crago eventually stopped in the 6300 block of Velma Avenue.
Authorities say Crago called Cleveland police dispatch and informed them of his intent to commit suicide by cop.
“Due to the nature of the incident, a shelter in place order was given via code red to residents in the area,” according to Parma police.
A tactical team later confirmed that Crago had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and recovered a .380 caliber handgun from the vehicle.
The shelter in place advisory, which had been issued around 10:40 p.m., was canceled by 11:35 p.m. During that time, residents in the area were advised to either shelter in their basement or an interior room of their homes.
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