CLEVELAND, Ohio – A suspect accused of killing a Cleveland police officer is expected to face charges Monday in the slaying of his grandmother.
The office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner said that Beatrice Porter, 63, of Garfield Heights died Thursday. That same day, De’Lawnte Hardy shot and killed Jamieson Ritter, a four-year veteran of the Cleveland department, according to police reports and prosecutors.
Authorities said Ritter, 27, and several other officers attempted to arrest Hardy, 24, on a warrant involving the shooting of Porter on June 29. Law enforcement officials said Hardy stole Porter’s gun and shot her in the face. He fled on a bicycle, police said.
Authorities said Porter had been on life support following the attack.
Ritter and seven to nine other police officers went to a home on East 80th Place to arrest Hardy at 3 a.m. Thursday. A family member tipped off police to Hardy’s location.
Hardy fired five shots, with one of them hitting Ritter, according to police reports and authorities. He later attempted to flee again on a bicycle, police said. Officers arrested him after the shooting. He is being held on a $5 million bond.
Cuyahoga County prosecutors are expected to indict Hardy within days on aggravated murder charges involving Ritter. A police report released Friday indicates that Hardy suffers from schizophrenia.
Ritter is the second police officer killed in a month. Jacob Derbin was ambushed at a home on East 211th Street on May while responding to a domestic call. His killer, Deshawn Vaughn, was found dead the next day during a standoff with police.
A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. today for Ritter at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Superior Avenue in Cleveland. Police from across the state are expected to attend.