Ohio man fatally shot by police believed to be burglary suspect, family says

An investigation is underway after a 28-year-old Ohio man died Tuesday, a day after he was shot by police, who believed he was a burglary suspect, as his family says he was cleaning out his late grandmother's home.

Joe Frasure was shot in Wyoming, a town of about 9,000, located 12 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. According to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office, he was hospitalized and died the following day.

His cause and manner of death has not yet been released.

Wyoming police said at about 1 a.m. officers responded to an apartment building in the 300 block of Durrell Avenue on a report of two to three people trying to break into a residence.

The 911 caller said the apartment should have been vacant.

Responding officers heard activity at the rear of the building and encountered Frasure and his father in the rear driveway, Wyoming Police Department Chief Brooke Brady said in a video statement.

She said Frasure was in a minivan and refused to leave.

The minivan reversed at a high speed before hitting a tree, at which point the vehicle accelerated rapidly at our officers, she said. Four shots were fired at the minivan as the minivan was accelerating towards them. The Hamilton County Sheriff's office said Frasure was struck in the gunfire.

After the shooting, the car struck the building.

Our officers forced their way into the minivan and pulled Mr. Frasure from it, with the vehicle smoking and the engine still running. She said they provided life-saving care and he was transported to the University Hospital.

Brady said she had looked at officer bodycam footage of the incident and was shared with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, which are both investigating the matter.

Brady said this was a tragedy for all involved. At this time, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. The police did not respond to requests for further details on the incident. The matter is still under investigation, according to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office.

Frasure's family disputes the police account of events, saying he was not a burglary suspect. Rather than say he and his father had been clearing out an apartment his grandmother had lived in before she died, according to NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati.

His sister, Shonda Coleman, told the station, I didn't hear any of that. I didn't hear any commands. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. It was like ten rounds. She said that she wanted all the cops that were here, all of them that were here, and I want their information.

The officers body cam footage is expected to be released at a news conference Friday with more information on the case.