Suspect who shot Clearcreek police officer may have turned gun on himself, prosecutor says

GRAPHIC WARNING: Some viewers may find the video disturbing.

WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) - Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said the shot that killed a Clearcreek Township man who shot a police officer in the head may have been self-inflicted.

Officer Eric Ney is continuing to recover, meanwhile, at a Dayton hospital.

Officer Ney was shot Tuesday night in the 5900 block of Ohio 48 in Clearcreek Township, a Warren County suburb about 45 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati.

Police responded to a home that has a history of multiple domestic violence calls requiring the police, according to Police Chief John Terrill.

On Tuesday, 65-year-old Mark Evers was ramming his wife’s vehicle with an ATV, he said. When police arrived he took off on the farm somewhere.

Police said they made several attempts to call Evers and have him come back to the front of the farm.

“We were there maybe probably for an hour trying to coax him back up to the front to talk to him,” explained Chief Terrill. “It was the intent of the officers to arrest him for domestic violence.”

He eventually agreed, but demanded officers stay 10 feet away, they said.

Video shows an officer asking Evers to put his gun away, but he fired then two shots at Officer Ney.

Evers shot Officer Ney, a 14-year veteran of the force, in the head and then was shot by Sgt. Nicole Cordero, according to the chief.

“She engaged him with gunfire... 15 seconds and it’s over,” the chief said. “Very hectic. Very quick.”

Sgt. Cordero was promoted to sergeant in March. She has been with the department since 2008.

Coroner Dr. Russell Uptegrove said Evers died as a result of at least one gunshot wound.

Fornshell said post-autopsy indicated one of the gunshot wounds was a contact wound to himself and Sgt. Cordero did not appear to be close enough for a contact wound.

“As we stand here today - we will not know the ultimate manner of death - suicide, homicide or undetermined - until the investigation is over,” he said.

Radio communications between officers on the scene and dispatchers suggest the shooting happened near a barn on the property where Evers reportedly trained horses.

Officer Ney was airlifted to Miami Valley Medical Center in Dayton.

The chief said the officer’s condition is improving and is on his feet.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is investigating and will turn its findings over to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

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