Ohio man pointed toy gun before fatal shooting

11/27/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS

MARION, Ohio — Police say a 40-year-old Ohio man pointed a toy gun at them before they shot him to death.

Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey said he initially believed that the gun Byron Holveck leveled at the deputies Sunday night was real. The subsequent investigation showed it was actually a black soft-air pistol that fires plastic pellets.

Such guns look real, and Bailey told The Columbus Dispatch he believes Holveck pointed it at deputies hoping they would kill him.

Holveck's girlfriend, Heather Nightwine, said he was depressed and told her he was going to “go out in a blaze of glory.”

Bailey said Holveck leveled the gun and charged at two deputies, who both fired at him.