Man pleads not guilty in Akron police officer's slaying

AKRON (AP) — A northeast Ohio man accused of fatally shooting an off-duty Akron police officer at a bar has pleaded not guilty.

Thirty-five-year-old Kenan Ivery of Akron was arraigned today in Summit County on 18 charges, including aggravated murder and attempted murder.

He has been held without bond at the Medina County jail. An Ivery attorney told the judge they weren’t challenging his bond given the seriousness of the potential death penalty case.

Ivery is charged in the Nov. 16 shooting of 32-year-old Justin Winebrenner.

Police say Ivery was asked to leave Papa Don’s Pub in Akron after becoming unruly and returned with a gun. Akron’s police chief says Winebrenner and two others rushed toward Ivery after he pulled out the weapon. Winebrenner was killed, and the two others were hurt.