Richmond Hills Apartments

Euclid police are investigating after an off-duty officer working security fired shots at a man who pulled a gun on the officer in the parking lot of the Richmond Hills Apartments.

(Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com)

EUCLID, Ohio -- An off-duty Euclid police officer working security at an apartment complex fired gunshots at a suspect who was armed with a handgun, police said.

The incident happened after the officer found the man and another man smoking suspected marijuana about 12:30 a.m. Friday outside the Richmond Hills Apartments.

The officer fired at the man after seeing he had a gun, police said. Investigators did not say in a news release if the man pointed the gun at the officer.

The man ran off and has not been taken into custody, police said. Investigators have identified the man and he will face criminal charges once he is arrested, police said.

The officer, a 14-year veteran, is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident. The officer was not injured in the incident.

The officer walked up to an SUV in the parking lot after smelling marijuana coming from it, police said. Two men were inside the car.

The passenger got out of the car and was detained without incident. The driver got out of the car and began running, police said.

The officer fired several shots at the driver after realizing he was armed. Investigators did not find any evidence the driver had been shot, police said.

A SWAT team and officers from South Euclid and Willoughby helped search the woods. Police reported finding a gun in the woods.

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