A man suspected to have been involved in a domestic violence incident was fatally shot Saturday morning by Mansfield police after a hostage situation involving the man's girlfriend and two small children, police confirmed.
According to the Mansfield Department of Police, officers responded to 200 Cline Ave. for a report of domestic violence just before 2 a.m. When police arrived they found a man at the door with a knife.
Police said the man "fled back inside the residence" with his girlfriend and her two small children inside. The man "appeared to be under the influence of drugs/alcohol," police say.
Hostage negotiators and the Richland County Allied Special Operation Response Team were called to the scene to begin negotiations.
Police say hostage negotiations lasted three hours. During the negotiations, the suspect released the two children from the residence.
A "short time later," the victim tried to escape the suspect and officers fatally shot and killed the suspect, police said. No further details of what led to the incident were made available. Police did not identify the suspect who was killed.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to the scene to handle the investigation.
Mansfield police said they would release more details "as they become available."
