[15] Classic Bmw Service Making Weekly Picture

Two police officers and a suspect were taken to the hospital after a shooting Sept. 28 at the Classic BMW dealership in Willoughby Hills.

All three are in stable condition, Willoughby Hills Police Chief Christopher J. Collins said.

Collins said officers were called to Classic BMW, 2571 SOM Center Road around 2 p.m. by management for a “customer problem.”

- Advertisement -

“Upon making contact with the guy, there was some conversation between the white male and the officers,” Collins said. “At some time during that contact, the suspect drew a handgun and shots were fired.”

Collins said at the 3:30 p.m. news conference they were still investigating the officers’ response and what happened, and did not have a lot of information.

Collins said the car dealership had not had any previous contact with the suspect. Management contacted the department because they felt he was under the influence.

The names of the officers were not released, but Collins said one has been with the department for more than 25 years, the other for three. Both were patrolmen and both were wearing ballistic vests.

The officers’ initial contact was in the service department and “as the officers were engaged in the contact that’s when he went out into the parking lot area,” Collins said.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will help Willoughby Hills investigate the crime scene.

Multiple area police and fire departments assisted on the scene.

“Anytime you have a shooting or incidents of this nature, we all work together,” Collins said.

South High School, Willoughby Middle School, the School of Innovation and Edison Elementary School were placed on lockdown at the request of the Willoughby Police Department, according to Willoughby-Eastlake Schools. The district said all students are safe and that evening buses would be delayed.

>> Watch: Video from the Willoughby Hills news conference