Man killed by police suffered several gunshot wounds

Autopsy reveals no obvious signs of substance abuse

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A forensic pathologist for the Mahoninig County Coroner’s Office says the man killed by police on state Route 11 Friday morning suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, and eight overall.

Dr. Joseph Ohr said any of the six wounds to the chest of 25-year-old Cody Dempsey of Kinsman would have been fatal. He also was grazed by a bullet on the shoulder and was hit in the thumb.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation of the shooting, which began after a chase that started on state Route 11 near state Route 305 about 11 a.m. Friday.

Trumbull County sheriff’s deputies saw a stolen car Dempsey was driving south on the highway and tried to pull it over, but Dempsey refused to stop. Troopers from the patrol used stop sticks at the Tibbetts-Wick Road exit, that stopped the car, at which time officers from Weathersfield Township police also were involved in the chase.

Police have said that Dempsey brandished a handgun before he was shot, but they have not said if Dempsey pointed it at officers or fired.

One trooper and more than one township officer are on administrative leave as the investigation takes place.

Weathersfield police will not say how many of its officers were involved in the incident, only that more than one is on leave.

Dr. Ohr also said that there was no obvious sign of recent drug or alcohol use when Dempsey’s autopsy was performed, but toxicology tests will be performed.

Mahoning County is handling the autopsy because Dempsey died at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.