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Age: 33 Cause of Death: Gunfire Incident Details: Officer Derek Owens was shot and killed as he and his partner chased four suspects in the city's southeast side. Officer Owens and his partner had observed the four men drinking beer in an abandoned lot and approached to speak to them. The men fled on foot as the officers pursued them.
One of the suspects produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Owens once in the abdomen, below his vest.
Other officers transported Officer Owens to a local hospital in the back of a patrol car. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight while undergoing surgery.
All four suspects were taken into custody following a house by house search in the area.
Officer Owens had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 10 years and was assigned to the 4th District. He is survived by his wife and two children.
End of Watch: Saturday, March 1, 2008
Wounded Ohio officer dies at hospital
By The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — A police officer who was shot investigating a group of men drinking beer inside an abandoned garage died hours later at a hospital, authorities said Saturday.
Derek Owens, 36, and another officer approached a the men Friday night and chased them when they started to run away, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said.
Owens caught up with one of the men, who turned around and shot the officer in the stomach just beneath his bulletproof vest, Stacho said. Owens returned fire and the suspect then exchanged shots with Owens' partner.
No one else appeared to be injured, Stacho said.
Owens underwent surgery at MetroHealth Medical Center but died early Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police arrested one man in the shooting but no charges had been filed, Stacho said. Investigators returned to the east-side neighborhood Saturday to collect more evidence, he said.
Police had received complaints from residents about the neighborhood, where many boarded-up duplexes had been vandalized. Owens was a 10-year veteran of the police department.
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