1 killed in shooting at central Toledo bar

Off-duty officer wounds man suspected in a homicide

Johnson

Police patrol around the Classic Lounge at Nebraska Avenue and North University Avenue in Toledo, where a shooting occurred overnight.

Mitchell

An off-duty Toledo police officer apparently shot and wounded a man suspected in a homicide at a central city bar early today, police said. 

Johnson

Toledo police said Officer Anthony Waldon was working off duty at the Classic Lounge at Nebraska Avenue and North University Avenue when he shot Charles Johnson, 36, the suspect in the shooting death of Darnell Mitchell, 38, of Toledo. Mitchell was pronounced dead at 2:07 a.m. at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, according to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

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Mitchell was shot about 1:40 a.m. at the bar, police said in a written statement. Officer Waldon responded immediately, pursued the suspect, and fired his department-issued weapon, police said.

Johnson was taken into custody and “appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound,” police said in the statement. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was expected to survive.

The shooting occurred inside the bar. There was no altercation prior to the incident, said Daryl Oliver, a manager at the bar.

Mr. Oliver said Mitchell visited the bar a few times prior, and that he did not recognize Johnson. The shooter was inside for fewer than 10 minutes, he said.

“I was trying to duck because it happened so fast. When it happens, you're trying to get out of there,” said Mr. Oliver, 58.

Officer Waldon, 37, was hired by the police department in 2010. Assigned to field operations, he will be placed on administrative leave with pay for “at least a few days while the initial investigation is completed,” police said.

This is the second homicide in Toledo as well as in the metro area this year.