Shooting at Walmart Update: Use of Force Justified, Chief Says

A plainclothes officer who shot a drug suspect in the Walmart parking lot Saturday afternoon was justified in using force, Police Chief Charles Goss said.

"According to witness statements, suspect No. 1 (the driver) refused to comply with several verbal commands from a police officer. Instead, he reached inside of his jacket. Accordingly, the officer was justified in taking the necessary force to neutralize that threat," Goss said in a news release.

No other shots were fired and no one else was injured, Police Chief Charles Goss said.

The suspects have been identified as Lawrence McKissic, 27, of Cleveland, who is in stable condition, and Lorenzo Dobyne, 24, of Middleburg Heights. 

Details of the incident have not yet been released. 

Goss said Strongsville police were "involved in the investigation of a drug transaction" in the parking lot" about 2:45 p.m.

He did not say whether police were called to the scene or if they were involved in an undercover drug buy. He said there were several plainclothes and uniformed officers there.

While officers were attempting to arrest two adult male suspects in a car, the driver of the car, McKissic, was shot and injured. Dobyne, who was in the passenger seat, was arrested without injury.

A witness who was in the parking lot at the time and heard the gunfire said the suspect was shot in the lower face and the leg.

"I ran over and the driver was on the ground," said John Male of Berea. "The officer was trying to help him. He wrapped something around his leg till the ambulance got here."

Male said the officer was visibly shaken.

A crowd that was gathered near the scene in the Walmart parking lot Saturday afternoon counted shell casings on the ground and pointed out nine bullet holes in the windshield of the suspects' car.

"I watch too much TV," said Donald Hill of Strongsville. "As soon as I saw those markers on the ground, I knew they were marking shell casings."

Goss He described the officer who fired the shots as "a veteran" on the force.

Male said he heard someone yell "Freeze" and what sounded like 13 or 14 shots. He heard a woman in the parking lot ask if it was fireworks.

"I knew right away it wasn't fireworks," he said.

Another ear-witness said she believed she heard nine rapid-fire shots.