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Dayton police officers fire 5 rounds at man with rifle
Updated: Monday, 11 Feb 2013, 7:13 PM EST
Published : Monday, 11 Feb 2013, 3:58 PM EST
- Alexa Ashwell
- Jill Drury
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) -
Dayton's police chief held a new conference Monday to discuss an officer-involved shooting Sunday afternoon, February 10.
His department has launched both a homicide and internal investigation as is standard procedure when any officer opens fire on a suspect.
Chief Richard Biehl played recordings of multiple calls to 911 from people who spotted the suspect armed with a rifle .
He also released dash cam video that captured the fatal shooting. We've decided to not show it in its entirety.
The first call to 911 came from a man at the River Commons Apartments off East Helena Street after he spotted another resident armed with a rifle. "I need some officers dispatched to River Commons."
When police arrived, the suspect, Daniel Holt, 34, wasn't in his apartment.
Minutes later, more calls to 911:
911: "He's walking down the sidewalk."
911: "He's standing right in the middle of the street. I don't know what's up with the dude. He's got a rifle though."
911: "There is a man carrying an AK 47, pointing it at cars."
Dayton police sergeants, Mark Ponichtera and Andrew Gillig, responded.
Cruiser cam video captured Sergeant Gillig, an 11-year veteran, crossing onto a bridge at Riverside Drive and into Island Metropark to find Ponichtera, 20-year veteran, outside his car demanding that Holt drop his weapon.
That's when investigators said Holt pointed the rifle at Ponichtera and both sergeants opened fire, striking Holt multiple times, killing him.
"The officers responded appropriately to a lethal threat," said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl.
Biehl then released a photo of the weapon Holt carried, an SKS rifle with a bayonet that was not loaded.
The chief also released a hand written note from Holt that read, "Please forgive me God."
Biehl said, "The content may be indicative of suicidal intent."
Chief Biehl says Holt has shown signs of mental illness in the past and referenced three incidents where the suspect threatened to take his own life.
The chief said it is unclear right now how Holt got a hold of the weapon in the first place.
Both sergeants are on paid administrative leave and will remain so until the investigation is complete.
Chief Biehl says the investigations could take up to six months to complete.
_20130524223412_107_80.JPG "Social media leads to help for victims")
Debbie Grenzebach watched the tragedy in Oklahoma unfold on TV. She decided to …
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