CELINA, OHIO (WLIO) - A Celina man was killed in a deputy-involved shooting early Tuesday morning in Mercer County.
The law enforcement surrounded Alik, who had a knife in his hand, and video shows that he didn’t obey commands to drop the weapon.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey says 22-year-old Moses Alik was pronounced dead at the hospital following the incident. He says just after 3 am Tuesday morning, deputies were called to back up Celina Police for a person with a knife outside of the Dockside Marathon. The law enforcement surrounded Alik, who had a knife in his hand, and video shows that he didn’t obey commands to drop the weapon. The Cellina officer used a taser on him with little effect. Alik raised the knife and started moving towards Deputy Spencer Heinl, who fired his weapon. They started life-saving measures until the EMS arrived to take Alik to the hospital. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate. Deputy Heihl was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
Media release from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
Celina, OH-Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that last night a deputy sheriff was involved in a fatal shooting incident in the City of Celina. Deputy Spencer Heinl, who was in Celina, went to back up Celina Officers at Dockside Marathon, 303 S. Main Street Celina at 3:03 AM this morning.
The original call was for a man with a knife. When confronted by officers, he brandished the knife and a Celina Police Officer deployed a taser but the taser did not disable the suspect.
The suspect then raised the knife above head and charged at Deputy Heinl. Deputy Heinl discharged his firearm, striking the suspect. The suspect fell to the ground and officers immediately called for EMS and started life saving measures.
The suspect, Moses Alik, age 22, 1400 W. Market Street, Celina, was transported by Celina EMS to Mercer Health where he was pronounced dead.
The Sheriff’s Office contacted the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification and requested they complete an investigation into the incident. Agents arrived on the scene and have begun an investigation.
Deputy Heinl, as a matter of routine, has been placed on paid administrative leave, while BCI completes their investigation. “I want to stress, this is not disciplinary leave, this is a normal practice in law enforcement as investigations like this proceed,” stated Sheriff Grey.
At this time, no other information is being released.
