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Suspect who killed an Ohio police officer in an ‘ambush’ has been found dead



Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin was killed Saturday night while responding to a domestic violence call. Photo courtesy of Cleveland Police/X

May 12 (UPI) — A suspect accused of killing an Ohio police officer in an “ambush” was found dead Sunday, authorities said.

The suspect, 24-year-old Deshawn Anthony Vaughn, was found dead in a residence in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S. Marshals spokesman Peter Elliott told reporters in a news conference Sunday.

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“The manhunt, the manhunt is over now,” he said.

The circumstances and manner of Vaughn’s death have not been made available to the public.

Authorities said he was locked in an apartment building and was heavily armed, possibly with a MAC-10 machine gun, for several hours, with multiple police forces responding, including drones, which the suspect is believed to have shot at.

Authorities were still trying to figure out exactly what happened, but Elliott said the suspect was “unwilling to give up and come out and surrender peacefully.”

The manhunt began Saturday evening after Euclid police responded to a 911 call at a residence in Euclid, north of Shaker Heights, just before 10 p.m

Chief Scott Meyer of the Euclid Police Department told reporters that the person on the call said the father of her child had threatened to harm her and her mother.

When police arrived at the residence, they were met by a woman who was “horrified” to be outside and talking to officers, Meyer said.

The woman said Vaughn was on foot and when officers went into the backyard, they were “ambushed by gunfire,” he said.

Officer Jacob Derbin was critically injured. Other officers returned fire and the suspect fled the scene.

Derbin died from his injuries later Saturday evening, an emotional Meyer said, describing the slain officer as a 23-year-old man who was sworn in as a police officer less than a year ago, on July 24.

“His kind heart and huge smile were contagious. The world was a better place with him and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

“My heart is breaking,” he said, holding back tears. “I want the public to understand what this looks like. I want her to understand the impact of this violence. It is absolutely disgusting and affects us all. My heart breaks.”

Derbin is engaged and his father is also an officer with the Euclid Police Department, he said.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered that Ohio and U.S. flags be flown at half-staff on all public buildings in honor of Derbin.

“It is a cruel irony that a mother lost her son on Mother’s Day and that this murder occurred just as we were preparing to honor our fallen during Police Memorial Week,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost , in a statement on Sunday.

“My heart burns with anger at this injustice, for the family of this young officer and the Euclid Police Department.”

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, at least 58 officers have died in the line of duty this year, including 22 by gunfire.