(This update adds details of the incident in Monroe, Michigan that led to the chase.)
A robbery and carjacking left two men dead in Monroe, Michigan, and resulted in a chase south through Ohio that ended last night with the apprehension of two suspects, one of whom was seriously injured.
The Monroe Police Department reported that Saturday officers were called to the Highlander Market, in the 1000 block of East Front Street for a reported shooting.
On arrival officers discovered a 34-year-old male victim and a 31-year-old male victim, who both had been shot. Monroe Fire Department, along with Monroe Community Ambulance transported the 34-year-old victim to an area hospital for life-threatening injuries. The 31-year-old victim died at the scene.
The 31-year-old victim was identified as Michael Ronald Beck, Jr. of Monroe. The 34-year-old victim’s identity is not being released at this time because the investigation is active.
According to Monroe police, the two offenders entered the Highlander Market, showed a weapon, and robbed the business for an undisclosed amount of money. Upon exiting the market, the suspects ordered the occupants of the blue Ford F-150, parked in front of the market, to get out of their vehicle, firing a shot at a witness standing near the truck.
That witness was not struck and was uninjured. The occupants of the truck left the vehicle. The suspects allegedly shot both men.
Photographs of the suspects and the truck led to the identification of the suspects.
That information was broadcast to neighboring police agencies and jurisdictions.
A 7:40 p.m. Saturday , Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers from the Bowling Green Post along with deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle and suspects at a rest area near Bowling Green.
As troopers and deputies approached the vehicle, the suspects fled the scene traveling southbound on Interstate 75. Troopers initiated a traffic stop however the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit ensued.
The suspects shot at the pursuing officers multiple times during the pursuit and troopers returned fire.
The pursuit continued southbound on I-75 into Hancock County and exited onto state Route 15. As the suspect vehicle was approaching Township Road 240, it then went off the right side of the roadway and landed in a ditch.
Once the vehicle came to a stop, troopers ordered to get out of the car. The suspects refused.
The passenger did eventually leave the vehicle and was taken into custody.
The OSHP Special Response Team arrived on scene and was able to take the driver into custody.
The passenger was identified as Ronnie L. Oliver, 44, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Oliver was transported to an area hospital for precautionary reasons. Oliver was medically cleared and taken to the Hancock County jail.
The driver was identified as Stephen M. Jones Jr., 29, Monroe, Michigan. Jones was flown to an area hospital for serious injuries.
No officers involved were injured in the incident.
The incident is still under investigation and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was requested to investigate the officer-involved shooting.
