JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A fugitive wanted in West Virginia on a federal weapons offense was shot and killed, and an officer was shot and injured following a standoff at a Jackson Township motel Monday afternoon noon.

Police held a news conference to discuss the shooting. You can watch in the player below:

Police provide update on fatal shooting

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, it happened in the 6800 block of Sunset Strip NW.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliot said the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force responded Monday afternoon to arrest the man after receiving a warrant Friday for the fugitive’s arrest, which Elliot describes as a career criminal with a long history of violent crimes dating back to the 1970s.

Once the task force members arrived, Elliot said they approached the man, who Elliot said pointed a gun at the task force members and then walked away. barricaded in a hotel room.

Elliot said task force members tried to get the fugitive to surrender several times, but the fugitive refused, so Elliot said task force members called the SWAT team from Canton police and the regional SWAT team for reinforcements.

That’s when Elliot said the fugitive began shooting from inside the hotel room at the officers for several minutes, hitting a member of the Canton Regional SWAT team in the arm. and a law enforcement vehicle.

Elliot said the officer should be fine.

“I am very happy that all of our law enforcement officers survived and they will be OK. This is very dangerous work for the men and women of the task force,” Elliot said.

Stark County Sheriff George Maier said the fugitive was eventually shot and killed by officers and was confirmed dead at the scene.

“This partnership has truly allowed us in law enforcement to find and remove violent fugitives from our community,” Maier said.

The U.S. Marshals Service said authorities searched the man’s motel room and found two guns and several shell casings.

Meanwhile, as the scene unfolded, Stark County Sheriff George Maier said police closed I-77 and evacuated Cracker Barrel customers to the rear of the building, where they remained in place until the end of the operation, as a precaution.

Fortunately, officials said no one besides the response team member was injured.

“This is just another example of a violent person living right here in our community,” Maier said.

Maier said that investigation is being finalized by the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4WANTED. Cash rewards are available.

A testimony

Courtesy of Kevin Sigler

Kevin Sigler works near the motel and sent News 5 several photos and videos showing law enforcement at the scene.

Sigler said authorities blocked access to his employer’s driveway and asked him to lock the doors.

Sigler said: “At first I thought, you know, some sort of domestic dispute. Then I noticed some officers with their weapons drawn, and that’s when I was like, “Oh, something’s happening,” and I looked to my left and I saw a guy in full tactical gear, and I was like, “Oh. , it’s starting to get serious here.'”

Sigler said the situation continues to get worse.

“Several agencies start showing up, then SWAT and people with shields,” Sigler said.

“Did you hear several gunshots?” News 5 anchor Damon Maloney asked Sigler during a Zoom interview.

“Yeah. Yeah, yeah, when the drone came in, there were gunshots,” Sigler said. “Several rubber bullets, several tear gases fired and, yes, a lot of gunshots.”