Police investigating shooting of East Cleveland man

Elyria Police Department detectives are investigating a shooting on the morning of May 9.

According to Elyria police Capt. Christopher Costantino, about 8:30 a.m., a 29-year-old East Cleveland man in town visiting his 25-year-old girlfriend walked from her home in the 1800 block of Middle Avenue to a drive-thru convenience store in the area of Middle Avenue and Oberlin Road to buy cigarettes.

When the man left the business and began walking back, he noticed a maroon van drive by him slowly, Costantino said.

A short time later, when the man leaned over to light a cigarette, he noticed the van had returned, Costantino said.

The man noticed the driver’s window rolled down and a rear sliding door had opened. The victim heard three shots and then felt something hit him in the right calf, the captain said.

The victim called his girlfriend, who transported him to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center, 630 E. River Road.

Police were informed of the man’s injuries and interviewed him, Costantino said.

The victim said he did not recognize the black male who drove the van and has no issues with anyone in the area. He also told police there may have been two or three other individuals in the suspect’s vehicle beside the driver.

Paramedics transported the man via ambulance to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Costantino said.

An earlier “be on the lookout,” also known as BOLO, was transmitted to local police agencies identifying a suspect in the shooting was canceled, he said.

Police are asking anyone with information contact them at 440-322-2241.