Wednesday, 04 October 2017 11:55

Norton-Barberton Shooter Injured, Arrested

Written by

The 911 call came in to Norton Police just about 7 p.m. Tuesday; reports of a man with a long rifle standing underneath a covered storage unit at the Barber Road Storage facility in Norton. 

There were no reports of "shots fired" at the time. 

Norton Police, Barberton Police, and the SWAT team comprised of officers from Norton, Barberton, and New Franklin Police departments, arrived within minutes. The suspect, 41-year-old David Michael Havrilek, was there with an assault-style rifle waiting for police and opened fire when they arrived. Police returned fire. The exchange lasted several minutes and Havrilek was injured in the shootout. Police then were able to take him into custody and then he was transported to Akron General Medical Center. 

There is no word yet on the charges Havrilek, an Akron resident, is facing, but he is no stranger to the law. He has a criminal history, including charges for felonious assault and domestic violence, among others. 

Norton Police Chief John D'alessandro said in a press conference following the incident that "the good guys" prevailed Tuesday night. It was Chief D'alessandro's ascertation that Havrilek was attempting to lure responding officers into a wooded area near the storage facility, but officers responded in accordance to their training and did not take the bait. 

Barberton High School and Middle School were placed on lockdown, while the Barberton Sports Complex and two area businesses were evacuated. The all-clear was given and the lockdowns lifter at about 8:37 p.m. 

While the situation was still "active," an Ohio Highway Patrol helicopter was deployed and officers used infrared to confirm that there was not a second suspect. There was no second suspect, just Havrilek. 

Read 2513 times