Video Shows Ohio Officers' Shootout With Suspect

May 3, 2013
A man jumped out of his car and opened fire on two Middlefield police officers on March 10.

Middlefield police have released dash cam video from a March 10 shootout in which a man jumped out of his car and opened fire on officers.

Officers Brandon Savage and Erin Thomas pulled over James Gilkerson after he ran a stop sign when the man exited his vehicle on Ohio 608 before firing 37 rounds from an AK-47 rifle, according to The Plain Dealer.

The two officers then fired back 54 rounds, fatally wounding Gilkerson.

Police on Friday released the video, along with a statement from the Lake County prosecutor that the officers were justified and the matter would not be taken to a grand jury.

"He got of the vehicle, intending to kill my officers. We don't know why he did it," Police Chief Arnold Stanko said at the news conference.

Thomas -- who was in the passenger seat -- walked around the police cruiser and got to about the driver's side door when Gilkerson began shooting.

She returned fire, along with Savage, who fired through the windshield of the cruiser.

Gilkerson was hit several times, but kept firing back, yelling "Kill me."

Thomas lost a finger in the shootout and is not yet back to work.

Savage suffered minor injuries to his left thigh and has since returned to duty.

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