Fatal shooting followed armed robbery and pursuit
ELYRIA — A Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to indict Elyria police Officer Ali Sabeiha in connection with the Jan. 21 fatal shooting of John Johnson in North Olmsted, according to an Aug. 12 release from police.
Police said the shooting followed an armed robbery at the AT&T store on West River Road North in Elyria.
A vehicle associated with the robbery was later located in Lorain, leading to a pursuit involving several law enforcement agencies. The pursuit ended after the vehicle crashed in North Olmsted, according to the release.
Johnson, 37, fled the vehicle with a handgun and forced a woman into a nearby apartment, police said.
Sabeiha encountered Johnson inside the residence. Police said Johnson presented a firearm and posed an immediate deadly threat before Sabeiha fired, striking him.
The woman and her children were removed safely from the residence. Officers provided medical aid to Johnson before he was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to the release.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an independent investigation at the request of North Olmsted police.
Police said the investigation was presented to a Cuyahoga County grand jury Aug. 11. The grand jury returned a “no bill,” meaning it did not issue a criminal indictment against Sabeiha.
The department also reported that a separate review of the use of force concluded Sabeiha’s actions were objectively reasonable under the circumstances. The release did not identify who conducted that review or when it was completed.
The Ohio attorney general’s office has made photographs, audio and video recordings and other records from the BCI investigation available on its investigative documents webpage.
“Our officers faced an extraordinarily dangerous and rapidly evolving situation involving an armed suspect, a hostage and the potential for additional loss of life,” Police Chief James Welsh said.
In May, the U.S. attorney’s office presented Sabeiha with its Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award for his response to the same Jan. 21 incident.
