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DeWine Releases BCI Report On Death In Yellow Springs Standoff

Wayne Baker
/
WYSO

An investigation over the death of Yellow Springs resident Paul E. Schenck is over. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine gave the report Tuesday morning. The report sheds light on the six hour standoff with police this summer that ended in Schenck's death, but leaves some questions unanswered.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation collected evidence over a three month period. BCI concluded that the 42-year-old Schenck was killed by a Greene County Sheriff's Deputy during the standoff and not by his own hand.

The report shows a total of six shots were fired at Schenck, while he fired 191 shots from inside of the home, with some of the bullets hitting neighboring houses and police cars.

The BCI report revealed that Schenck's alcohol level was .18**, twice the legal limit for impairment in Ohio, and his son Max told investigators that his father was despondent that day because his cat was killed and had become physically abusive towards him which led to police being called to the family's High Street residence.

Mike DeWine said all efforts were made to resolve the issue without the use of deadly force, but it was a dangerous situation.

"He was firing at almost 360 degrees," says DeWine.  "If he had been firing out of an open window, which we believe at least for part of it he was, those bullets could have flown at least one mile.".

Schenck's mother Uta says more could have been done to protect her son, like letting her communicate with him during the standoff.

"He asked for us possibly as you heard. And we're terribly aggrieved by that," Uta Schenck said. "Could you answer why we were not given a chance to negotiate when we were asked - my husband and I?"

Swat Team Major Kirk Keller says normal protocol was used.

The Attorney General's Office will now present the case to a grand jury to decide if the evidence shows Schenck's death was a justifiable shooting.

Attorney General DeWine’s full statement regarding BCI's findings is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.

**Correction: An earlier version reported Schenck's blood alcohol level was 1.8.