The situation began at the 23rd annual Black Family Reunion at Sawyer Point, a three-day regional event celebrating black culture, where police said someone trying to bring in guns over a fence was spotted by an off-duty officer, said Cincinnati police Sgt. Danita Kilgore.
On-duty officers then pursued several teenagers nearly 10 blocks to Fountain Square, where an almost two-minute physical confrontation ensued.
“Officer Cyranek immediately asked (Mullins) to stop and (Mullins) refused, prompting the officer to take hold of (Mullins’) arm to prevent him from running,” Craig said.
The victim, Davon Mullins, drew his weapon, a 9mm handgun, and Cyranek fired two shots, one severing Mullins’ aorta and penetrating both lungs, according to a preliminary autopsy by the Hamilton County’s Coroner’s Office.
Cyranek was suspicious of Mullins because he was grabbing his pants pocket, and Cyranek thought he may have picked up a weapon earlier at Sawyer Point, Craig said.
During the struggle, a second teenager approached Cyranek, but was not arrested. Mullins managed to break free from Cyranek’s hold and proceeded to reach for his weapon with “his finger on the trigger,” that’s when Cyranek fired two shots, Craig said.
Mullins died at University Hospital, according to hospital spokeswoman Diana Maria Lara.
Police found three guns from the incident.
Police declined to release Cyranek’s personnel file or information about Mullins.
As for following proper police protocol, Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas, who was a 27-year veteran of the department and chairman of the law and public safety council, said the shooting appears justified.
“It’s early to draw a conclusion without the investigation being totally complete, however, from what I’ve seen, it does appear that he (Cyranek) did everything he could,” Thomas said. “Whenever’s there a weapon or life and death encounter, police officers are trained, but the citizen might not be trained.”
Cyranek, on the force since 2006, is on paid administrative leave in accordance with protocol.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or kelgazzar@coxohio.com.
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