The resident, Anthony D. Williams, 57, was fatally shot by two officers: Sgt. Chris Wall, a 21-year-veteran of the force, and Officer Joshua Clift, who has been a member of the department for just more than a year.
Williams’ wife went to a next door neighbor’s home to call police, Hughes said. Dispatchers were told Williams had a gun, was threatening to kill himself and was intoxicated in the front bedroom, according to the 911 call. Williams was reportedly depressed and “had a lot on his plate,” according to the call.
The 911 caller said Williams had fired his handgun, a .357 Taurus Magnum revolver, inside his house twice before his wife went to their neighbor’s home and an additional time after she left. His wife told dispatchers that he would not shoot at officers.
Hughes said the first officers arrived at 6:25 p.m. Sunday at the home in the 1200 block of Adams Road. By 6:30 p.m., five officers were on the scene and the Warren County Tactical Response Team was requested. As officers maneuvered around the house, they said they found Williams holding a handgun at 6:50 p.m. A report of shots was made at 6:55 p.m.
Hamilton Twp. police called for the state investigators at 7:07 p.m., who responded to the home with a crime scene unit and officer involved critical incident team. Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell also responded.
Both officers are on administrative leave pending clearance to return to duty. Neither officer was injured.
Hamilton Twp. police do not use body cameras due to the costs to sustain and maintain the system, Hughes said.
“This is the first time we’ve had an incident of this magnitude,” he said.
Williams’ family issued a statement on social media saying they were thankful no officers were harmed. They said it was “a tragic event” and that they “very much so back the blue and glad not one else was harmed. We ask everyone to respect our privacy during this time.”
Hughes said “it meant a lot to him” that the family supported police.
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