On a Thursday evening, an incident took place outside of Chillicothe’s police enforcement center at 28 N. Paint St. The incident resulted in the death of Nicholas Mitchell, the suspect, and severe injury to Sgt. Eric Kocheran; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost identified Mitchell (age 42) as the person of interest in a Friday news statement.
In this article, we will investigate what occurred during the shooting incident, why the suspect shot the deputy, what followed afterward and law enforcement’s response to it.
What happened during the incident?
According to Ohio Attorney General’s office, Sgt. Eric Kocheran was wounded at around 5:00 p.m. during a gunfire exchange with Nicholas Mitchell outside police enforcement center. Footage captured by Kocheran’s body camera shows Mitchell firing one bullet that hit Kocheran in the upper body; Kocheran then shoots back and hits Mitchell, causing him to fall to the ground.
Why did the man shoot the deputy?
Kocheran’s body camera footage also captures Mitchell approaching the door and asking for more officers, with Kocheran asking Mitchell “What’s happening?” Mitchell replied that someone had threatened his family by shooting me, so I needed to protect my children.” So as a result, Mitchell took action: he shot himself in the leg!
The video then depicts Mitchell drawing a gun and pointing it at Kocheran. Kocheran attempted numerous times to persuade Mitchell to lower the firearm before firing multiple shots.
What happened after the shooting?
According to the sheriff’s office, Mitchell was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Chillicothe region where he later passed away. Kocheran was taken by ambulance to Grant Medical Center in Columbus by Grant Medical Transport Services.
On Thursday evening, the sheriff’s office reported Kocheran to be stable at Grant Medical Center in Columbus. However, Yost’s office reported on Friday that he remained in “serious condition”.
Law Enforcement Response
Various agencies, such as Chillicothe Police Dept and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), assisted with this investigation. Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks were also present at the scene.
On Friday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and commended law enforcement officers’ bravery, noting: “Every officer puts on their uniform every morning knowing that today could be their last day – yet they still go to work. Sergeant Kocheran showed true bravery by showing up every day regardless of what could come their way. I need prayers for his recovery as well as that of his family members – who are going through an ordeal I would not wish upon anyone.”
Conclusion
On June 19th, 2016 an incident outside the Chillicothe police enforcement center resulted in the tragic death of Nicholas Mitchell and severe injury to Sgt. Eric Kocheran. While its exact cause remains unclear, law enforcement officers who face such danger every day deserve our gratitude for their bravery and strength. Our thoughts are with Sgt. Kocheran and his family during this trying time.