Rouven Loch, who was shot and killed by a Fairborn police officer, was suspected in a string of store robberies over several days in Dayton and in Fairborn. Here are some key points in the incident:
- Police: Rouven Loch of Fairborn pointed pellet gun
- Gun similar to Smith & Wesson M&P 45 handgun
- Officer who shot Loch has been identified
- Vigil for Loch planned for Sunday
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UPDATE @ 2:06 p.m. (Feb. 26):
The Fairborn police officer who shot and killed an armed robbery suspect after a standoff Monday is William Titley, according to records obtained by this news organization. He’s an 18-year veteran of Fairborn police.
Titley’s name had been withheld by local and state authorities while their investigations continue.
The officer is on paid leave, which is standard after an officer-involved shooting.
Titley has served as a patrol officer, D.A.R.E. officer and school resource officer. He has received several awards including Employee of the Year 2001, the Knights of Columbus Blue Coat Award and Fairborn City Schools Excellence Award in 2014, according to Fairborn police. He joined the Regional Emergency Response Team in 2004 and responded to the standoff in that capacity, according to the department.
UPDATE @ 10:44 a.m. (Feb. 26):
A vigil is planned for the man fatally shot by Fairborn police Monday that ended an hours-long standoff. The candlelight event will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton.
Rouven Loch, 22, the suspect in several area armed robberies in Dayton and Kettering, was shot outside his home in Fairborn while holding a realistic-looking pellet gun. Police said Loch told them that he was not going to back to prison. Loch died of a gunshot wound to the torso.
>> VIDEO: Moments before Rouven Loch was killed
A social media post for the event said: “Guests are encouraged to share this event with friends and also share their thoughts and memories of Rouven at the event. No funeral arrangements will be made for him, so please join us at this event to pay respects to Rouven and his family.”
Organizer Sarah Combs said she hopes friends can get closure and remember Loch’s life for more than how it ended.
“He did a lot of bad things in his life and made a lot of stupid decisions and we all know that,” Combs said, “… but it’s really sad to think that’s all he’s going to be remembered for, because, deep down, he was a good person.”
UPDATE @ 4 p.m. (Feb. 25):
The Fairborn Police Department released a supplemental report today regarding the standoff and fatal shooting of Rouven Loch, 22, shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, outside his home in the 1300 block of Eastview Drive in Fairborn.
“Loch was observed at the residence and stated he had a firearm and he refused to come out. He threatened to ‘come out shooting’ on more than one occasion. The (Regional Emergency Response Team) was activated and negotiations were attempted, but Loch refused to come out and surrender. Loch eventually exited the residence with a firearm, pointed it at officers, and was shot by a member of the RERT.”
Loch was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later died. The investigation was turned over the the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the report stated.
UPDATE @ 4:45 p.m. (Feb. 23): Rouven Loch was pointing a pellet gun when he was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer to end the standoff, according to a prepared statement from the Fairborn Police Department.
The same statement identifies the shooter only as an officer with 18 years’ experience with the Fairborn Police Department who is a member of the Regional Emergency Response Team.
He is on paid administrative leave, per department policy, and his name is being withheld while the Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues with its investigation.
According to the department, Loch was pointing a M&P Model 45 .177 pellet gun, which is similar to a Smith & Wesson M&P 45 handgun.
UPDATE @ 2:27 p.m. (Feb. 23)
The Montgomery County Coroner’s office has released the preliminary finding for cause of death of Rouven Loch.
Loch died in Miami Valley Hospital’s emergency room of a single gunshot to the torso, according to the coroner’s office.
One of our photographers captured video showing Loch confronting police outside the Eastview Drive home. Police said one Fairborn officer shot the suspect as he pointed a handgun.
The identity of the officer who shot Loch has not been released. Fairborn police said more information will be released before the end of the day today.
Fairborn Sgt. Mark Stannard said the officer who fired the shot was a member of the Regional Emergency Response Team, which comprises officers from multiple law enforcement agencies.
UPDATE @5:14 a.m. (Feb 23):
A man who was shot Monday night by police has died.
Rouven Loch, 22, of Fairborn, died following the incident. His body is at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
The incident started shortly after 2 p.m. Monday when Fairborn police were asked to assist Dayton police detectives in an attempt to locate Loch, who was a suspect in several area robberies.
Loch refused to come out of the house and said he had a loaded handgun and that he was not going back to prison, according to Fairborn police.
Negotiatiors made phone contact with Loch and attempted to make him surrender. Tear gas was then deployed, and Loch came out of the house and pointed a handgun at officers, according to Fairborn police.
A single shot was fired at the suspect. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
EARLIER
Police said they will have more to say today about Monday afternoon’s officer-involved shooting of a man holed up in a house on Eastview Drive in Fairborn.
The shooting, which occurred just before 6:30 p.m., ended an hours-long standoff with the man suspected of committing at least six store robberies the last several days in Dayton, Kettering and Fairborn.
Fairborn Sgt. Mark Stannard declined to release the man’s name, age or condition, but did confirm the man is the suspect in the robberies of businesses that began Thursday evening in Dayton, including a Speedway gas station in Fairborn during the weekend:
* Thursday evening, Feb. 18: Rite Aid on East Third Street, Dayton
* Thursday evening, Feb. 18: Rite Aid on Linden Avenue, Dayton
* Thursday evening, Feb. 18: Circle K on Watervliet Avenue, Dayton
* Friday morning, Feb. 19: Circle K on East Fifth Street, Dayton
* Friday morning, Feb. 19: CVS Pharmacy on E. Dorothy Lane, Kettering
* Friday morning, Feb. 19: Walgreens on Wayne Avenue, Dayton
“He was struck after pointing a gun when he came out of the residence,” Stannard said, noting the man was taken to Miami Valley Hospital. There was nobody else in the house, he said, noting the man apparently lived at the address.
Stannard also declined to identify the officer by name, but said there will be an administrative investigation, which occurs whenever there is an officer-involved shooting.
He said a joint investigation of the recent robberies, which included Dayton police, led officers to the house on Eastview Drive. Officers did make phone contact with the man, who refused to leave the house. Stannard said the Regional Emergency Response Team was contacted after the man told police he didn’t want to go back to prison. Negotiations were attempted, the sergeant said.