Coroner rules in officer-involved shooting

Death of suspect deemed homicide; BCI inquiry continues

The Trumbull County coroner has ruled homicide in the shooting death of a Girard man who was on the run from authorities.

Fred Wild III, 50, of Keefer Road, was surrounded by law officers the morning of March 21 on private property off state Route 7 in Brookfield Township.

A death certificate signed by Coroner Dr. Lawrence D'Amico states Wild died of multiple gunshot wounds, but the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing its inquiry of whether the shooting of Wild was justified.

Wild, who was wanted in several jurisdictions on failure to comply charges, was in a stolen pickup truck and attempted to plow through police when officers fired, reports state.

Law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions descended on the Brookfield property after midnight when they received a call from the landowner who said a "dangerous" man was holed up in the cabin on his property.

Earlier on March 20, Wild led police officers on an extensive high-speed chase from Lordstown through Weathersfield, Vienna and Brookfield in another pickup truck before he bailed out when the vehicle got stuck on railroad tracks near Merwin Chase Road in Brookfield.

State investigators, including troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, still are piecing together the details of the last few days of Wild's life.

Sgt. Ray Santiago of the patrol's public affairs unit, confirmed Friday that one trooper is on "critical incident leave" resulting from the Brookfield shooting.

Meanwhile, Dr. D'Amico is still awaiting the preliminary autopsy report from Cuyahoga County's medical examiner on the death of 43-year-old Ruby Sanchez, who died after being shot around 12:30 a.m. Sunday at the Hampshire House Apartments in southwest Warren. Detective Michael Altiere of Warren police is investigating the case, and those with any information can call him at 330-841-2749, according to a news release.

Warren police also are investigating the shooting of a 2-year-old boy at a Martin Street SW home Sunday evening. The boy was shot in the hand and taken to the hospital after 8:30 p.m., a report states. Officers arrested Ke'Vonna Marion, 23, and charged her with child endangering. Municipal court records show Marion was arraigned Tuesday, pleading not guilty to the third-degree felony. Bond for Marion was set at $12,500 and if released, conditions of bond include no contact with the child victim unless approved by the court.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com