SYLVANIA, Ohio — A suspected burglar is dead after being shot by a Sylvania Township police officer early Sunday and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is taking up a review of the shooting.
The autopsy for Eduardo Parra, 24, of North Las Vegas, Nev., performed Monday showed he died in a police involved shooting and received three gunshot wounds - one to the face one and each lower leg.
No weapon was recovered from the suspect at the scene at Valencia Drive and Whiteford Road, and no bodycam footage is available from Sylvania Township police because the department does not wear body-worn cameras, Chief Paul Long said during a news conference Sunday morning. Long has said the cost of the cameras was an obstacle to the department and they haven't been able to obtain them.
The chief emphasized in the news conference that while the man said he had a weapon, he didn't actually have a gun and that's why no weapon was recovered.
"In the end, there was no weapon recovered. It was just the suspect telling officers he had one. There was not a weapon at the scene," Long said.
FULL SYLVANIA TWP. POLICE NEWS CONFERENCE
The chief said the man who was shot and killed was not from the area. His ID shows he's from a state not close to here, police said.
Sylvania Township Police Chief Paul Long said the officer who shot the suspect was Officer Kyle Andrews, who has been eight total years of law enforcement experience and two years with Sylvania Township. Andrews was on a solo patrol, as all Sylvania Township officers are, Long said. Andrews is on paid administrative leave while the investigation takes place.
This is the third shooting of a suspect by a Sylvania Township police officer since 2020, and the second such fatal shooting.
Last year, Officer Justin Brackett fatally shot a man attempting to rob a Stop and Go with a knife on Feb. 26 and Officer Logan Hosley shot a man who pinned him with his car during a domestic violence call on June 8. A grand jury declined to bring charges against Holsey.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
- Call of a burglary came in at 4:46 a.m.
- Officers on scene at 4:48 a.m.
- Officers spotted suspect at 4:58 a.m. at another residence
- Foot pursuit shortly after; officer said suspect said he had a gun, reached toward waist then raised his arms 'in a threatening manner'; shots fired.
- First aid rendered
- Suspect transported to Toledo Hospital, died at hospital
- Situation unfolded 10 minutes from officers arriving on scene and encountering suspect
In the incident Sunday, a homeowner called 911 at 4:46 a.m. to report someone had smashed in their front door, ran through the home and out the rear door, police said.
That homeowner declined to go on camera but told WTOL that he screamed at the suspect to leave his home after he broke down his front door. He added the suspect told him he had a weapon but then ran out the back door.
Police said that the suspect was seen on home doorbell video and the preliminary indication is that the suspect was canvassing other homes around the area, according to doorbell cam footage, police said.
"It's really kind of a mystery right now how he ended up there at 4:45 in the morning," said Chief Long, "because, again, what we know about him from his ID on him, he's not from a state even close to here."
Sylvania Township police officers arrived at the location - Whiteford Road near Rudgate - and searched the area for the suspect at 4:48 a.m.
A neighbor who spoke to WTOL who also did not want to be identified and lives near the home that was broken into, said the police arrived quickly.
"They were here in two minutes," she said. "So I'm just so thankful for the Sylvania Township police and their response time."
Ten minutes later, the suspect was located.
The man was found near the front door of another residence in the same area as the earlier break-in, police say.
At that point, police say the suspect refused to follow the officer's commands and told the officer that he had a gun. The suspect then ran away from the officer, police say.
The preliminary investigation says that as the suspect was running away, he reached into his waistband/pocket area, turned toward the officer and raised his arm in a threatening manner.
The Sylvania Township officer then fired his weapon, striking the male suspect.
Chief Long says BCI is investigating the shooting and the use of force, adding this same type of situation is how Toledo police officer Anthony Dia lost his life last summer.
"The officer has looked at what he perceives and what he knows and the facts he knows," said Chief Long. "We do not have to wait for someone to shoot at us because the bottom line is if they shoot first, maybe we're never shooting back."
Police say they arrived and rendered first aid to the suspect. He was transported to Toledo Hospital where he died a short time later.
The neighbor WTOL 11 spoke to says her daughter left the lights on in their house on Saturday night and she thinks it could've deterred the suspect. But she believes the officer was justified.
"In the heat of the moment, he doesn't know that guy doesn't have a gun, he said he had a gun, " she said. "I'm thankful that he did what he needed to do and he was not shot at so I don't fault the police, I think they're doing their job."
No other suspects were believed to be involved. No officers were hurt in the incident on Whiteford Road near Rudgate.
The chief said the suspect was shot in the legs and face according to information he received from the hospital. He also said there were around four shots fired by Andrews.
Next of kin has not yet been contacted and police also said the fact that the man is from out of state is making the investigation more complex than usual.
The family who lives in the house that was broken into was not harmed. They didn't see the man, but did talk to him.