Warren officer who shot suspect identified

WARREN

The Warren police officer who fired the shots that hit Randall Bryant, 45, of Harrison Street Northeast on Wednesday night has been identified as Patrolman Adam Huffman.

A review of the 911 recordings from the 11:32 p.m. incident indicates Huffman fired two to three times as Bryant emerged from the home at 1104 Harrison St. with a shotgun. Police Chief Eric Merkel also confirmed the officer’s identity this morning.

An officer at the scene told a police dispatcher later that Huffman fired after Bryant “raised the shotgun” while coming through the door and that Bryant was hit one to two times in the arm, though the officer said he was basing his estimate on what he saw of Bryant’s injuries at the scene.

Huffman indicated he had ordered Bryant twice to drop the weapon before he fired, Merkel said.

Bryant was in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and had surgery Thursday. A spokesman for St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital said this morning she had no information on Bryant.

Read more about the investigation in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.