CLEVELAND — 3News has learned that a Cuyahoga County corrections officer was injured during a jail incident involving De’Lawnte Hardy -- the man who allegedly shot and killed Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter in addition to the murder of his own grandmother, Beatrice Porter.
A Cuyahoga County spokesperson told 3News that a corporal opened Hardy's jail cell to let him take a shower when the 24-year-old exited the cell and ran.
Hardy was quickly stopped by corrections officers, but a "brief struggle ensued" and OC spray was deployed.
Officials say that Hardy "was secured and taken to receive medical care. He was cleared medically and returned to his cell. "
According to the spokesperson, a Cuyahoga County corrections officer sustained a minor injury from the incident.
During a court hearing on Wednesday, July 24, the $10 million bond for Hardy was revoked.
TIMELINE OF THE CASE
The accusations against Hardy began on June 28 when he was staying with Porter -- his grandmother -- at her residence near Reindeer Avenue and Claremont Boulevard in Garfield Heights.
“While inside her residence, he stole her firearm and shot her in the back of the head,” according to the prosecutor’s office. “Afterward, he fled the scene on his grandfather’s bicycle. A family member arrived at the residence the next morning around 1 a.m., found the victim, and called the police.”
Porter was taken to the hospital and a felonious assault warrant was issued for Hardy’s arrest.
On July 4, Cleveland police officers were called to the 1500 block of East 80th Street amid a report that Hardy was present.
When officers, including Jamieson Ritter, arrived at the scene, they placed a spotlight on the residence.
“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,” according to the prosecutor’s office. “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.”
Several officers then attempted to arrest him.
“During the struggle, Hardy fired four shots at multiple officers,” according to the prosecutor’s office. “The first shot struck officer Ritter, the second shot nearly missed another officer and the third shot was in the direction of two other officers.”
Officer Ritter was taken to the hospital where he died a short time later. Hardy’s grandmother died hours later that same day around noon.
Hardy was arrested at the scene.
3News' Ryan Haidet contributed to this report.
