VANDALIA, OH – The Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed that both suspects involved in a hostage situation on Wednesday morning have died from their injuries.
The male suspect was pronounced dead at Miami Valley Hospital at 12:30 p.m.
Earlier that day, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the Special Response Team on the scene attempted to free the hostage.
This action led to an exchange of gunfire with the suspects. Both suspects were hit during the incident, as reported by Lt. Nathan Dennis of the OSHP.
The female suspect was moved to a local hospital where she later died.
Around 1 a.m., London police attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicle, but they fled to a truck stop outside the city. Upon reaching the truck stop, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and started running. When an officer tried to use a Taser, the male suspect threatened the officer with a gun.
The suspects then forcibly took control of a Werner semi-truck that had the driver still inside. During their escape, the truck collided with a London police cruiser. A pursuit ensued, with law enforcement chasing the suspects through several counties, including Clark, Greene, Madison, and Montgomery, until they eventually reached near the Dayton International Airport by approximately 3:30 a.m. Negotiations with the suspects began at that point, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Special Response Team (SRT) was called to the scene.
About four hours later, around 7:30 a.m., members of the SRT attempted to extricate the victim from the semi. However, the suspects opened fire on the SRT members. In response, the troopers returned fire, injuring both suspects.
Following the exchange of gunfire, the hostage was successfully rescued from the semi with only minor injuries.
The male suspect was in critical condition before his subsequent death. The case is still under investigation.