Man cleaning out dead gran's flat shot dead by police mistaken for burglar
A man cleaning out his dead gran's flat has been shot dead by police after being mistaken for a burglar.
Joe Frasure, 28, from Wyoming, Ohio, US, was shot by officers on January 30 at his grandmother's flat and was rushed to hospital following his injuries.
He later died the next day, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.
The tragic shooting happened after Wyoming police dispatched officers to a flat shortly before 1am after two people were reportedly trying to break into the property.
The caller told police the apartment should have been empty.
Tragedy as 13-month-old boy dies after the stolen car he was in crashedPolice Chief Brooke Brady said there was activity at the back of the building where officers saw Mr Frasure and his dad in a minivan.
Police reportedly issued "repeated" commands to the pair to come forward.
She said: "The minivan reversed at a high rate of speed, before hitting a tree, at which point the vehicle accelerated rapidly at our officers.
"The officers fired four shots at the minivan as the minivan was accelerating towards them."
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s office confirmed Mr Frasure was struck by the gun as the car hit the building.
She added: "With the vehicle smoking and the engine still running, our officers forced their way into the minivan and pulled Mr. Frasure from it.
"They then provided life-saving care and he was transported to University Hospital."
Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the incident after bodycam footage of the shooting was passed on to authorities.
“This is a tragedy for all involved,” Brady said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.”
Mr Frasure and his dad were cleaning out their late gran's flat after she recently died.
Outrage as abandoned baby found in pram on beach, with mum off for a coffeeHis sister, Shonda Coleman, has demanded to see the bodycam footage as she disputes the police's account.
She told NBC: “I didn’t hear none of that. I didn’t hear no commands. All I heard is pop, pop, pop, pop. Like, it was, like, 10 rounds.
"I want to see the bodycam. I want all the cops that was here, every one of them that was here, I want their information."
Erika Frasure, who is married to Frasure’s half-brother, Joe Frasure Jr, are baffled at claims he was a burglar.
She said: “None of it makes sense to us.
“It was a burglary call. He was somewhere he was supposed to be. None of this adds up.”
Prosecutors are expected to release the bodycam footage ahead of a police press conference later today.