Ross County Deputy Ambushed Behind Sheriff’s Office: Suspect is Dead
A deputy is in stable condition after being shot outside the Ross County Sheriff’s office in Chillicothe, while the suspect is dead.
It happened at around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Law enforcement reported that the deputy, who is Sergeant Eric Kocheran was shot in the chest in the parking lot outside the Law Enforcement Complex located at 28 N. Paint Street in Chillicothe.
The sergeant was rushed to Adena Medical Center. The shooting, police said, appears to be an “ambush.”
“Sergeant Kocheran was transported to a Columbus area hospital where he is currently stable,” said Sheriff George Lavender.
The parking lot behind the jail was sectioned off with police tape with Lavender was on site. Multiple agencies, including Chillicothe Police Department and Ohio BCI were assisting in the investigation. Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks was also at the scene, as well as deputies from the Pickaway County Sheriff’s office.
Police said the suspect, whose name has not been released, approached Kocheran and yelled that he needed police assistance, and that people were out to kill his family, before opening fire on the deputy. Kocheran was shot once and then returned fire, shooting the suspect three times.
“A suspect was also shot and transported locally. I do not have any additional information to share at this time. BCI’s investigation remains active and ongoing,” said Steve Irwin, a spokesman for the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
Officials at the local hospital said the suspect — whose name they would not release — has died.
Kocheran was flown to a trauma center in Columbus and had immediate surgery.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today issued the following statement regarding the investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Chillicothe on Thursday evening:
“Every officer puts on the uniform in the morning knowing that today could be the day they face a deadly attack – and they go to work anyway,” Yost said. “Sgt. Kocheran demonstrated that daily dose of courage. I ask for prayers for his recovery and for his family, who face a trauma I would wish for no one.”
At approximately 5 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 17, Sgt. Eric Kocheran was shot during a gunfire exchange with a suspect outside of the sheriff’s office. Kocheran was transported to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where he remains in serious condition.
The suspect identified in the shooting through fingerprints has been identified as Nicholas Mitchell, age 42. Mitchell was transported to a Chillicothe-area hospital and subsequently died from his injuries. His next of kin has been notified.
Ross County Sheriff George W. Lavender requested that BCI investigate the incident. This is the 55th officer-involved shooting that BCI has investigated in 2022.
Once completed, BCI’s investigation will be referred to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office. At the conclusion of the case, the investigative file will be made public on the Attorney General’s website.
