A Defiance man was pronounced dead Saturday after he allegedly pointed a gun at troopers, and was shot by a trooper returning fire.
The shooting took place northeast of Bowling Green, after Donovan L. Joyner, 26, drove into a field while being pursued by law enforcement.
The Defiance County Sheriff’s Office notified the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 12:41 a.m. that they were pursuing a Chevrolet HHR after the driver reportedly failed to stop for a traffic violation. Troopers responded and became involved in the pursuit near the area of U.S. 24 and Ohio 15 in Defiance County.
The vehicle continued to flee through Henry County and Wood County, where the driver continued on multiple roads, including through Bowling Green.
Eventually, Joyner drove into a field near the intersection of Ohio 199 and Ohio 582 in Webster Township. The driver fled from the vehicle on foot with a handgun and reportedly began firing rounds. The driver then allegedly pointed his handgun at troopers, which resulted in a trooper-involved shooting.
After the shooting occurred, troopers reportedly rendered first aid. Joyner was pronounced deceased at the scene.
No officers involved were seriously injured as a result of the incident. A passenger in the suspect’s vehicle, not involved in the shooting incident, was taken to a local hospital with a medical issue for evaluation and treatment.
The overall incident remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was requested to investigate the trooper-involved shooting.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Bowling Green Police Division, Perrysburg Division of Police, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Troy Township EMS and Ohio Department of Transportation.
