Joe Frasure died on January 31, a day after Wyoming police officers fired four shots at him as he was allegedly in a minivan.
An investigation is underway after a 28-year-old man died a day after he was shot by police who believed he was a burglary suspect, per NBC. His family says, he was cleaning out his late grandmother's home.
Joe Frasure was shot in the early morning in Wyoming, a city of about 9,000 about 12 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. He was hospitalized and died on January 31, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.
Police in Wyoming, Ohio, were responding to the scene of a possible burglary when they SHOT Joe Frasure — who was reportedly only cleaning out a deceased family member’s home. Frasure is now brain dead and police have yet to release body cam of the encounter. pic.twitter.com/tYtJJrkVc5
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) February 1, 2023
Wyoming police said officers responded to an apartment building in the 300 block of Durrell Avenue shortly before 1 a.m., following a report that two to three people were trying to break into a residence.
The 911 caller reported that the apartment should have been vacant. Responding officers heard activity at the building and encountered Frasure and his father in the rear driveway, Police Chief Brooke Brady said in a video statement.
(3/3) Arthur Tucker says the person who was shot was his nephew. His name is Joe Frasure. Tucker said he’s a father of two with a third on the way. He noted Frasure’s third child will born on Tuesday. Tucker sent me this photo of his nephew. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/aqIssEtryZ
— Jessica Hart WCPO (@JessicaHartTV) January 30, 2023
She said Frasure, who was in a minivan had refused the police commands to exit. "The minivan reversed at a high rate of speed, before hitting a tree, at which point the vehicle accelerated rapidly at our officers,” she said, adding, “The officers fired four shots at the minivan as the minivan was accelerating towards them."
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s office has said that Frasure was struck in the gunfire. After the encounter, the car struck the building. "With the vehicle smoking and the engine still running, our officers forced their way into the minivan and pulled Mr. Frasure from it. They then provided life-saving care and he was transported to University Hospital," she said.
"He's done. He's not going to make it."
— Jenna Cisneros (@JennaCisnerosTV) January 30, 2023
A burglary call overnight turns into an officer involved shooting in Wyoming. Family members tell me 28 y/o Joe Frasure was shot in the head by police. His uncle, Arthur Tucker was just at the hospital as family members said goodbye. pic.twitter.com/Ft57u7eHhQ
The cause of death has not been released. Brady said that she has reviewed the officer's bodycam video of the incident and that it has been shared with the sheriff's office and the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, which are further investigating the matter.
“This is a tragedy for all involved,” Brady said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.”
Body camera footage of police shooting of Joseph Fraser Jr. in Wyoming to be released https://t.co/WjMBisy9ge
— WLWT (@WLWT) January 31, 2023
Frasure's family has disputed the police's report, saying he was not a burglary suspect. Rather, they are saying that he and his father had been clearing out an apartment his grandmother lived in before she recently died, NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati reported.
Joe Frasure was cleaning out his grandmother's apartment because his grandmother died 3 weeks ago.
— Joseph Dennis (@jd1515151) January 30, 2023
Police officers fired 10 shots at the vehicle.
Frasure died Monday evening.
Relative is asking why did the police have to shoot him in the head?https://t.co/BMM5XOTniC
His sister, Shonda Coleman, told the station, “I didn’t hear none of that. I didn’t hear no commands. All I heard is pop, pop, pop, pop. Like, it was, like, 10 rounds." She added, "I want to see the bodycam. I want all the cops that were here, every one of them that was here, I want their information,” she said.
Prosecutors are expected to hold a press conference with further information.
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Cover Image Source: Youtube | WLWT
