BCI investigating officer involved shooting in Wadsworth

By EMILY CANNING-DEAN

BGNN staff writer

WADSWORTH  The man who was fatally shot in Wadsworth the evening of June 18 has been
identified as 54-year-old Shannon Sloan.

Officers were dispatched to Sloan’s residence at 223 Durling Drive at approximately 9:02 p.m. for a report of a man armed with a handgun and threatening suicide in his backyard.

Shortly after they arrived on scene, officers reported that gunshots had been fired. Both Wadsworth
police officers and Wadsworth EMS personnel attempted to perform life-saving measures on Sloan,
but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wadsworth Police Chief Dan Chafin explained that it is department policy to have the Ohio Bureau of
Criminal Investigation conduct the investigation of any officer involved shooting incident.

“There were two officers that discharged their weapons,” Chafin said, adding that there are no
other details he can share at this point in the investigation, but confirmed that officers had been
called because Sloan had threatened committing suicide.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave and BCI was requested the
evening of the incident and BCI officials responded to the scene to begin the investigation.

“The investigation is actively ongoing and once the investigation is complete, it will be referred to the
Medina County prosecutor,” said Steve Irwin, spokesperson for BCI.

Irwin added that during the investigation, BCI typically does not identify the officers who are the
subjects of the investigation. He did add that no charges have been filed against the officers at this
time.

Personnel from the Wadsworth Police Department also want to dispel any rumors that the incident was related to the Blue Tip Parade or festival which kicked off the evening of June 18.

“Commentary on social media that this incident was related to the festival is false,” stated a press release issued by the department. “None of these claims are accurate and at no time was there any threat to the Blue Tip festivities.”