Ohio police officer shot and killed while executing warrant

By Cory Shaffer
cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cleveland police officer who was shot and killed Thursday while serving his sentence for a crime was recently named Officer of the Month after he and his partner saved the lives of two people earlier this year.

Court documents identified Officer Jamieson Ritter as the officer killed Thursday. Cleveland police released Ritter’s name Thursday afternoon. De’Lawnte Hardy, 24, of Cleveland, has been charged with aggravated murder in the slaying, which happened about 4 a.m. on East 80th Place in the city’s Hough neighborhood.

Ritter, who lives in Olmsted Falls, according to city records, was one of 18 officers who joined the force in November 2020. He previously served as an ROTC cadet while studying communications and rhetoric at Syracuse University, according to social media posts.

He was assigned to the City’s Third District.

This Cleveland Police Foundation Ritter, 27, and his partner, Brittany Vajusi, were Officers of the Month five days ago. The pair provided emergency medical care to two gunshot victims, one in February and one in May, and saved a man who jumped into the Cuyahoga River in April.

The pair’s sergeant, Eric Norton, wrote that their actions saved the life of one of the gunshot victims and prevented hypothermia in a man who jumped into the river. While treating the second gunshot victim, the pair obtained information that led to the arrest of the suspected shooter, Norton wrote.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in a statement Thursday that he was devastated by the officer’s death and vowed to bring his killer to justice.

“Our entire city mourns the tragic loss of this dedicated public servant,” Bibb said.

Cuyahoga County Attorney Michael O’Malley said his office will pursue the killer to the fullest extent of the law.

“Our community must come together to support our officers and use one voice to condemn the violence that occurs every day in our community,” O’Malley said.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said at a news conference that Ritter was among eight to 10 officers who tried to arrest Hardy Thursday morning on an aggravated assault warrant issued by the suburban police department.

Hardy tried to flee the scene on his bicycle, then pulled out a gun and opened fire as officers gave chase, Todd said.

Ritter was taken to University Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead, Todd said. Hardy, who police said was not injured, was taken to the hospital as a precaution and later released into police custody.

Reporter Adam Ferrise assisted in preparing this report.

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