TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo Police Department said a TPD officer was involved in an officer-involved shooting early Wednesday morning, after the suspect in an armed robbery pointed a gun at them as they pursued him.
According to an update from TPD Wednesday afternoon, the suspect has been identified as 51 year-old Paul Villagomez. He is still being treated at a local hospital and is expected to survive. His firearm was recovered at the scene.
At 12:51 a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at the Speedway located at 5160 Dorr St. The 911 caller said the location was just robbed at gunpoint by a white male with a handgun who fled towards the Tim Hortons in the plaza across the street.
Shortly after, a one-man police unit arrived on scene. The suspect was observed running behind the Dollar General, located at 1305 N. Reynolds. Officer Knapp encountered the suspect and commanded him to show his hands. The suspect walked toward the officer while brandishing a handgun.
Officer Knapp fired seven rounds from his department-issued handgun, striking the suspect in the leg. The suspect then dropped the gun and complied with Officer Knapp’s verbal commands. Additional police units arrived and rendered life-saving aid to the suspect.
Villagomez is being treated at a local hospital and is expected to survive. His firearm was recovered at the scene. A bag containing money was found inside his clothing and a warrant was issued for aggravated robbery.
Detectives will continue to investigate this incident, which is the first officer-involved shooting in 2020. An Internal Affairs Review and a Firearms Review will also be conducted.
The last officer-involved shooting occurred on Dec. 20, 2018, according to Toledo police. This is the second officer-involved shooting in the area in recent weeks, as Sylvania Township Police were involved in one on Feb. 26. That incident was a gas station robbery on West Alexis Road and Whiteford Road in Sylvania Township, and the knife-wielding suspect died after being shot.
Knapp joined the department in 2013 and will be placed on a three-day paid leave, per union contract, and have access to critical incident debriefing.
According to department policy, an officer may use deadly force when the officer reasonably believes the action is in the defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in defense of any person in imminent danger of serious physical injury.