CLEVELAND — Shortly before noon on this sunny Friday, Cleveland police officers shot a suspected fugitive, now identified as DeWayne Taylor, 31, in the parking lot of the Steelyard Commons Walmart.
According to a press release from the division, members of a fugitive task force tracked Taylor, a Pennsylvania resident, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is wanted for pointing a firearm at officers on Dec. 4. In a press conference with Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams, Cleveland Public Safety Director Karrie Howard, and US Marshal Pete Elliot, the team said the shooting occurred after members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force attempted to apprehend a suspect in the store's parking lot.
"Shortly before noon today, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, which we are members of, tracked the suspect-- a violent fugitive-- to the parking lot where we are," Police Chief Williams said during a press conference. "We attempted to apprehend the suspect, and of course, the suspect pulled a weapon and started fire."
Chris Chapin, Public Information Officer for Cleveland Emergency Medical Services, was able to confirm to 3News that at least one 31-year-old male was sent to MetroHealth, and is currently in stable condition.
Cleveland City Council sent out a release shortly after the incident on Friday.
"The council members were told that the victim had a lengthy, violent record that included armed robbery," the press release detailed. "A transparent investigation of the shooting and of those law enforcement officers involved as well more on the fugitive and how he was tracked to Steelyard Commons, is expected."
3News crews were on scene early Friday morning and were able to visually confirm multiple special agents and a crime scene set up just outside of Walmart in the shopping complex.
This is a developing story, check back with 3News for updates.
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