Family, friends gather at vigil for Springfield shooting victim hit by responding police cruiser

SPRINGFIELD — Friends and family gathered in Clark County tonight at a vigil for a man who police said was shot Sunday night.

Eric Cole died Sunday night after being shot and ran over by a responding police cruiser.

The Springfield Police Department said when they went to find Cole after he was shot, an officer ran over him.

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Springfield Police told WHIO-TV the details of the incident Tuesday in a written statement.

Springfield Police are planning a news conference for Wednesday morning at the city building downtown.

“I loved my son,” said Regina Wilson, the victim’s mother.

“He was taking care of his kids, his grandma, me, everybody in his family,” she said.

Police say Cole was first shot in the arm on South Center Boulevard in Springfield Sunday.

Dash Camera video obtained Tuesday shows officers arriving on scene.

From one cruiser camera, Cole is seen lying in the road after police said he was shot.

WHIO-TV blurred the video as the officer gets closer, freezing the video just before it shows the cruiser run over him.

An ambulance took Cole to Springfield Regional Medical Center.

He died after being air lifted to Miami Valley.

“He was goofy he was loyal, he loved his family,” said Chyna Wilson, Cole’s niece.

“We want justice, we’re angry, we’re confused,” she said.

Springfield Police say they have met with Cole’s family.

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A police report for the case describes officers responding to a male shot. The report states, “observed a male lying on the south bound lane [with] a gunshot wound.”

The report does not mention an officer running over Cole.

Dion Green, the son of Oregon District Mass Shooting victim, Derek Fudge, questions why any announcement from police took days.

“To come in Tuesday and then to find out, it’s very odd. And we’re going to demand answers and we’re going to demand accountability,” Green said.

Green is a Springfield native and says he has known Cole for years.

“It’s just not right, he’s a father, uncle, a brother, son. And he’s gone, he’s gone.”

Cole’s niece said although he is gone, he is remembered.

“It was a big loss he was somebody that was close to us and he held the family together. He was the backbone of the family.”

Springfield Police have asked the State Patrol to handle the investigation into the cruiser hitting Cole.

In the meantime, we’ll bring you coverage of this planned news conference.

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