Authorities reveal identity of man shot by Akron police officer

AKRON, Ohio — Authorities have released the identity of a man who was shot and killed at a gas station early Saturday morning by a police officer investigating a suspected stolen vehicle.

Michael Donnell Jones, 54, of Akron, died of two gunshot wounds to the upper body, according to the Summit County Coroner's Office. Jones' death was ruled a homicide, but the coroner's office stressed that it was “a medical judgment that indicates death at the hands of another and not a legal conclusion.”

The shooting occurred shortly after 1 a.m. at a Duchess BP gas station on East Avenue near Louisiana Avenue in the Kenmore neighborhood. Officers spotted the allegedly stolen car in the gas station's parking lot.

Akron police have not released details about why the officer shot the man, the circumstances under which he fired, or whether he had anything to do with the stolen car. In Saturday's news release, police referred to the man as a “suspect.” A loaded gun was found in the car they searched, according to police.

The officer who shot the man had been with the Akron Police Department for two and a half years. He was placed on paid administrative leave.

“When an incident like this occurs, it is tragic for our city and everyone is impacted, especially when a life is lost,” Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said in a statement to WKYC Channel 3. “Police-involved shootings are often very nuanced and complex and are some of the most difficult situations a community must deal with. More information will be released in the coming week, including body-worn camera footage of the incident, so that we as a community can get a clearer picture of what happened. My thoughts are with the family of the deceased and our police officers.”

The investigation is being conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, which was on the scene. A separate internal investigation is being conducted by the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability.