ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The fatal shooting of a man in Butler County Tuesday night was "justifiable," Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said.
The shooting happened at about 5:30 p.m., according to a Butler County dispatcher. Authorities said the initial call was of a report of a man shooting at a moving train. When deputies attempted to engage with the man, they said he fled.
Jones said the suspect, 32-year-old Jacob Faulkner, ran into his home and came back out with a loaded shotgun, which he pointed toward deputies.
Watch Sheriff Jones' full news conference in the player below.
Deputies warned Faulkner to drop his weapon several times, Jones said, but Faulkner did not comply.
Deputy Taylor Hensen, 29, fired "several" shots at Faulkner. Deputies tried to administer first aid, but Faulkner died at the scene.
“In my experience, in over 40 years of doing this job and being in law enforcement, I believe that this is a justified shooting … it’s a tragedy anytime someone loses their life. It’s also a tragedy for those who have to take the life, and we take that very serious,” Jones said.
Jones said the Butler County coroner will determine whether or not Faulkner was trying to commit “suicide by cop.”
“He was told to drop the weapon. He approached the deputies with a weapon. Was that a form of suicide by cop? I don’t know ... it’s a thought that we have, but that determination will be made by the coroner,” Jones said.
Faulkner's family told The Journal-News that Faulkner was a Marine veteran and a New Miami graduate.
Faulkner’s family members say he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Unfortunately Jake suffered from extreme PTSD as do a lot of veterans. Jake, like many veterans, saw things in combat like normal civilians don't see or can't quite understand,” Kevin Ginter said.
No deputies were shot, according to Jones.
Hensen has been a Butler County sheriff's deputy for six years. He is currently on leave.
Jones said 10 to 12 deputies were on scene, not counting those in plain clothes. Trenton Police Department assisted the Butler County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.
The shooting is under investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s Detective Unit. Evidence will go to the prosecutor, who will then present the case to a grand jury.
The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO.
