Carroll County sheriff: Man who fired at deputies found dead after standoff

BROWN TWP. ‒ A man died due to a self-inflicted gunshot Monday after he fired at Carroll County sheriff's deputies with multiple guns from his home in an hours-long standoff with Carroll County sheriff's deputies just outside of Minerva, the sheriff said.

Carroll County Sheriff Calvin Graham confirmed shortly after 7 p.m. in a briefing to reporters at the scene that the man involved in the standoff, whom he declined to identify, was found dead at his home in 9179 Metro St. NW.

Besides that man, no law enforcement officers, residents or bystanders were injured, Graham said. No other people were in the home. The man did not take any hostages. He was married, but his wife was not in the house at the time of the standoff.

The man's age and other details were not immediately available. Except Graham said he had a son with the same name.

Carroll County Coroner Mandal B. Haas, who arrived at the scene just before 7:30 p.m., could not be reached for comment Monday evening.

Graham said deputies went to visit the man's home before 3 p.m. after concerned family members requested a well-being check on him. The man had sought mental health treatment earlier that day from Coleman Health Services, which has locations in Canton and Alliance.

The man began firing at the deputies over a few minutes, heavily damaging three sheriff's vehicles and forcing the deputies to take cover behind their vehicles, the sheriff said.

Law enforcement officers deployed three armored vehicles, one from the Carroll County sheriff's and two from the Canton Regional SWAT Team, which gave the three deputies cover to get away from the home.

The Canton Regional SWAT team responded with Minerva police and other Stark agencies, as law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the man's home. Graham said the SWAT team tried to contact the man by phone but he apparently had his phone turned off.

Police blocked off Metro Street near where it connects with Kennel Road NW, which intersects with State Route 183. Stark County Sheriff's Office operated a drone over the scene.

Law enforcement then used bean bag rounds to knock out the home's surveillance cameras and deployed tear gas canisters. But they did not fire any bullets, Graham said. He said the SWAT team members may have used flash bangs to try to disorient the gunman.

Graham said he did not yet know how many shots the man fired but they were multiple calibers indicating he shot with different weapons. He said crime scene investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would help his office determine which types of guns were fired.

The sheriff said it's not yet clear when the man shot himself.

Graham said he would release his next update Tuesday. He indicated his office would review the deputies' body-camera footage.

Trying to get back to her sons

Breanna Petros lives a few houses down from the house where the standoff took place.

On Monday afternoon, she was visiting a friend in the neighborhood on another street. After the shooting started, she tried to get back to her house and her 10-year-old son and 5-year-old son. But police would not allow residents onto Metro Street from Kennel. She was able to reach her sons by phone.

Breanna Petros said she spotted a SWAT team sniper on the roof of the house across from the house where the standoff was taking place. And she could hear gunshots.

Her brother Randy Petros, who lives with her, locked the back door. He kept the two boys away from the windows. He said he initially thought the gunshots were fireworks or shingles falling off of a nearby roof.

Breanna Petros said one of the people not allowed onto Metro Street was a man who said he was the son of the man in a standoff with deputies. She said he was trying to call his father on his phone, and he couldn't reach him.

Eventually, Breanna Petros was able get back to her house.

She said she didn't know that well the man who died.

"He was a really nice man. He would wave at me and my son every day. Just a sad situation," she said.

Randy Petros said, "It's hard to believe. Especially in a small, quiet town like this. It's a sad day."

Minerva warned residents to stay away

The village of Minerva had warned residents in a Facebook post to stay in their homes and away from the area at one point Monday afternoon but later said it was OK to return.

"UPDATE: Area is safe for residents. Some police units will remain on scene for a while longer while the investigation is completed. Thank you for your patience," the post reads.

Minerva police officers and Minerva Fire Department pickup truck left shortly after 6:30 p.m. shortly after law enforcement officers had secured the scene. Investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrived around 7 p.m.

People who identified themselves as family members of the deceased man appeared at the crime-scene tape strewn across Metro Street. Some embraced each other. And some went under the tape to go to the man's house.

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: One dead after standoff at home outside of Minerva