3News investigates has learned the Akron Police Department officer who fatally shot 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker also killed another suspect in the line of duty earlier in their career.
The prior shooting occurred in February 2022. 3News is choosing not to name the officer, because no charges have been filed and they have not been publicly accused of any wrongdoing as a result of the 2022 shooting.
According to investigative records from the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the incident occurred when Akron police were called to a scene on Ritchie Avenue around 2:46 am. The caller claimed that a suspect named Lawrence Rodgers was threatening the occupants of the home with a firearm.
Body camera footage obtained by 3News shows after officers arrived on scene, they established a position outside an exterior door, looking down a hallway. Officers can be heard repeatedly warning Rodgers to discard his firearm and come out empty-handed.
Rodgers refused to drop his weapon, and can be heard referring to "the real killer." Rodgers then appears in an open doorway, still brandishing a gun. At that point, multiple officers fire their weapons.
Peter Fleischer reports.
