RAVENNA, Ohio — Body camera footage obtained by 3News Investigates captures the moments before a deadly police shooting that happened in Ravenna on Tuesday after authorities said a suspect stabbed a victim with an axe and then approached officers with the weapon.
The video shows that Ravenna police gave 43-year-old Matthew James Fries warning after warning before the deadly shooting on the Portage Hike and Bike Trail at approximately 11:45 a.m.
But Fries, who had already allegedly stabbed one man and was wielding the axe, refused to listen to the commands of officers.
Footage shows officers arriving on scene and rushing to the stabbing victim, who was still laying on the trail. Police realize the suspect, Fries, is still on the Portage Hike and Bike Trail and rush to find him before another attack occurs.
Less than 30 seconds later, officers locate Fries. They can be seen and heard warning him more than a dozen times to drop the weapon and get on the ground, but he refuses to comply. Fries is seen walking toward the officers and yelling obscenities.
"We're going to have to do it," one officer is heard saying.
Ravenna police realize that Fries is not going to stop his approach. They made the decision to fire their weapons.
Court records show Fries had a lengthy criminal history with more than 20 cases, most of them criminal and many of them violent. Ravenna police also confirmed that both Fries and the stabbing victim were homeless and living in tents off the trail.
The case is being handled by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Agents are continuing to gather details about the shooting.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Ravenna Police Department at (330) 296-6486.