Grand jury returns no indictment in fatal Liberty Twp. police shooting
The Jan. 11 shooting involved SWAT officers
Photo courtesy The Journal-News
and last updated 2021-04-22 19:16:53-04
A Butler County grand jury has reviewed evidence in a January officer-involved fatal shooting in Liberty Twp. and declined to issue an indictment, according to Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.
Deputy Ricky Phillips, now an acting detective, shot and killed Junius Thomas after a several-hour standoff at the Lakota Pointe Townhomes following a response to a domestic report on Jan. 10. An investigation conducted by the sheriffâs office says Thomas raised a weapon in a doorway, and the deputy fired.
A Butler County Grand Jury has declined to issue an indictment in the January standoff that ended with an armed man being shot four times by an officer.
On January 11, the Butler County Regional SWAT team responded to a 911 call from a resident living in the 6800 block of Yoakum Court at Lakota Pointe Townhomes near Liberty Junior High School.
The caller said someone she knew broke through her front door and had a pistol.
By the time SWAT arrived, the caller was able to get out of the apartment. The man who broke in, Junius Thomas III, 31, was still inside, according to officials.
Man killed in Butler County SWAT standoff identified
Man killed in Butler County SWAT standoff identified By Jennifer Edwards Baker and Jessica Schmidt | January 11, 2021 at 8:16 PM EST - Updated January 12 at 5:18 PM
BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (FOX19) - A SWAT standoff suspect is dead in Butler County after pointing his gun at a SWAT team member as they entered an apartment to try to take him into custody, Sheriff Richard Jones said.
It happened about 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 6800 block of Yoakum Court at Lakota Pointe Townhomes near Liberty Junior High School.
Deputies were first called to the residence just after 5:30 p.m. for a domestic situation that the sheriff said escalated, prompting more deputies and the SWAT team to respond.