Police: Suspect reached for gun prior to police shooting; Huber Heights officer placed on paid leave

BUTLER TWP. — Butler Twp. Police Chief John Porter and Huber Heights Police Chief Mark Lightner have provided more information into the shooting that hospitalized a suspect late last week.

Police were called out to the Days Inn on Miller Lane on the evening April 13 on reports of shots being fired. Around that time, a woman called and said the Taevion Booker had shot at her. It was reported Booker, 23, then left the Days Inn and headed toward Arbys on Miller Lane.

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Porter said at the time of the call, several other officers were on priority calls and weren’t able to respond, so a call for mutual aid. That was when two Huber Heights officers responded to Miller Lane.

A Huber Heights officer, identified as K9 Officer Shawn Waler, located Booker walking on Miller Lane, near O’Charley’s, and activated his emergency lights and approached Booker.

Waler ordered Booker to stop twice, put his hands up and face away from the officer. At this time, a Butler Twp. officer arrived on scene. As the officer walks toward Booker and Waler, the Huber Heights officer fires three shots at Booker.

Lightner showed body and cruiser camera video from the incident. In it, he pointed out, what he described as, Booker lowering his hands to pull up his pants and pull out a gun. Video showed Waler yell at Booker to drop the gun before firing three shots.

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A gun was seen falling from Booker’s right hand to the ground in the video.

The police chiefs said Booker remains in the hospital.

Booker was charged with discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises Wednesday afternoon.

Waler, an 18-year veteran of the Huber Heights Police Division, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigations into the incident.

Currently, there are three active investigations into the incidents that happened Thursday, including Ohio BCI’s investigation into the officer involved shooting.

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