A second suspect has died at the hospital on Wednesday following a seven-hour standoff with Ohio police near the Dayton airport, which ended with the rescue of a semi-truck driver who had been taken hostage, authorities have confirmed.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has stated that an officer-involved shooting is currently under investigation by the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. As a result, Dayton International Airport Road will be closed between Interstate 70 and US 40 for several hours while investigators process the scene.
The incident began around 1 a.m. when London police officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with no rear lights or visible registration. As the officer was conducting the stop, the suspects fled in the vehicle on US 42 north out of London to a truck stop, where they then fled on foot.
During the pursuit, the officer attempted to deploy a taser, but one of the male suspects fell and pointed a handgun at the officer. The suspect managed to escape to a nearby semi-tractor with no trailer. He and a female suspect then fled in the vehicle with an occupant of the truck. As they left the truck stop, the suspects struck a London Police cruiser, although no officers were injured.
Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with the Madison County Sheriff's Office and London police, responded to the scene to give chase. The pursuit, spanning several counties, eventually came to an end in Montgomery County, just off Interstate 70 on the access road to the Dayton International Airport.
Negotiations with the suspects and the truck driver took place, resulting in the closure of the roadway. At 3:23 a.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team (SRT) arrived to assist in the active hostage situation. At approximately 7:30 a.m., the special response team approached the semi in an attempt to rescue the hostage.
As troopers approached, they came under fire from the suspects. In response, troopers returned fire, striking both the male and female suspects.
The hostage was safely removed from the truck with minor injuries. Troopers then approached the semi again to take both suspects into custody. Both individuals were transported to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident.
Authorities have confirmed that the female suspect was pronounced deceased at the hospital, as of the latest update provided at 9:20 a.m. local time.
In the final update, the Ohio State Highway Patrol announced that the male suspect has also been pronounced deceased at Miami Valley Hospital. They have directed all further inquiries to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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