Police ID officer, suspect in gunfight

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - New details were released Monday about a gunfight that left a Springfield police officer wounded and a suspect dead.

The Chief of Police is preparing the case to be presented to a grand jury once all reports are finalized. 

Chief Steve Moody broke down the events that led up to the Friday night shooting which happened outside a home on Maiden Lane during a press conference Monday afternoon.

Craig Frye, 41, of London, Ohio was identified as the suspect.

Chief  Moody identified the officer who was involved in the shootout as Officer Greg Ivory, a 10 year veteran of the department.

Police responded to a home on reports of a domestic dispute Friday night.

When Officer Ivory arrived, Chief Moody said Frye was pointing a gun at his wife, Casandra Frye, and her co-worker Juan Torez, outside of Torez's relatives' house.

Police said Officer Ivory and Frye were standing about six feet apart when Frye pointed his gun at the officer.

Gun fire was exchanged. The officer was struck in his bullet proof vest near the belt line. He is expected to be okay.

Frye was shot multiple times and was later pronounced dead at Springfield Regional Hospital.

Craig Frye, Jr. says his parents have been together since they were children and the story doesn't sound like him.

"He has been there for us my whole life," said Frye Jr.  "He worked everyday of his life and he was just a spiritual man. He always had this laugh. No one else laughed like him and he would always give you a high five."

Officer Ivory is on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

Its unclear who fired the first shot, according to Chief Moody.  Investigators are waiting on key information such as an autopsy and toxicology report, as well as the findings from evidence gathered at the scene.