The man who was shot and killed by a Hudson police officer last week appears to have been unarmed, according to authorities.
A spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which is handling the investigation, said Monday that the only weapon found at the scene was Officer Ryan Doran’s gun. Investigators believe Doran fired six shots at 26-year-old Saif Nasser Mubarak Alameri, who died of a gunshot wound to the head. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office lists Alameri’s death as a homicide.
As heard on a dashboard camera video released by the city, Doran fired three times at Alameri after a minute-long struggle while both were out of view of the camera, then paused for a moment before firing three more shots. During the pause and the second set of shots, what sounds like a man whimpering can be heard.
Jill Del Greco, the attorney general spokeswoman, said the case will be reviewed by the office’s Special Prosecution Section to determine whether to file charges against Doran in the case. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office asked the state to handle the potential prosecution, Del Greco said.
Until the investigation is complete, Doran is on paid administrative leave from the police department.
Doran shot Alameri the afternoon of Dec. 4, according to police reports. Alameri caused a serious car crash on the Ohio Turnpike, ending with his vehicle on its roof. Witnesses described him as running “wildly” from the scene. Doran was among the officers who gave chase.
Doran caught up to Alameri in a wooded area about a half-mile north of the turnpike, according to GPS coordinates in his cruiser. He drew his weapon and ran out of view of the dashboard camera, but audio captured the altercation. He repeatedly told Alameri to stop and that he would shoot. After about a minute, shots rang out.
An autopsy has been performed, but a toxicology report to determine whether Alameri had alcohol or drugs in his system could take months to complete.
Alameri, a Case Western Reserve University student studying law, was a citizen of the United Arab Emirates.
Yousef Al Otaiba, the Emirati ambassador to the U.S., said in a statement on Monday that he had contacted Ohio Gov. John Kasich to discuss the case.
“In our call, I thanked the governor for the cooperation that state officials have provided so far,” he said. “I also emphasized the importance of a thorough, transparent and timely investigation into the tragic shooting death of Mr. Alameri.”
Al Otaiba said Abu Dhabi police joined U.A.E. Embassy officials in Hudson on Friday to discuss the case with authorities.
He said Alameri’s family has been deeply affected by the incident.
“We are in close contact with the family,” he said, “and we have done our best to provide support and assistance to them during this difficult time.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook @JournoNickGlunt .