More shooting details released

Investigation sheds more light on fatal shooting by Elyria officer in 2019

An investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting shed new light on the July 2, 2019, incident following an announcement earlier this week by the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office that no charges would be filed.

According to investigators the incident that led to a police standoff at a Carlisle Township Marathon Gas Station at 1425 East Ave. and the shooting death of 39-year-old Isaiah Washington began earlier in the day. It stemmed from a domestic altercation, increasing intoxication and aggressiveness from Washington that culminated in his fatal shooting after refusing to comply with police orders for five minutes.

The standoff

Elyria police fired upon the vehicle with Washington and then 39-year-old Damon Battles inside after no fewer than five separate verbal commands from Officers Alan Kubas and Charles “CJ” McArthur to roll down their windows and exit the vehicle, investigators found.

Kubas told investigators from the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office in a July 8, 2019, statement, that after Battles — sitting in the backseat of the vehicle — opened the door he saw the barrel of a gun, at which point Robinson raised the weapon, pointing it at him, before police fired on the vehicle with their M-4 rifles.

Robinson was sitting in the front passenger seat facing the rear of the vehicle with the seat pushed back.

Battles exited the vehicle after the shooting ceased and was arrested. McArthur told investigators Robinson fell or “bailed” out of the front passenger door at some point during the shooting.

“I could tell he was hurt bad,” McArthur told investigators.

At the moment the rear door of the vehicle was opened and prior to opening fire, McArthur recalled seeing Robinson looking straight at him and the barrel of a gun. He didn’t initially recall how many rounds he fired.

Washington suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died from his injuries at UH-Elyria Medical Center. Battles also suffered gunshot wounds.

Battles told investigators that during the incident he feared Robinson more than police and had the gun pointed at his head at times.

He initially attempted to exit the vehicle to get away from Robinson, but he stopped due to feeling unsafe around Robinson with the gun pointed in his face while being pointed at officers at the same time.

“I knew he was crazy, but I didn’t know he was that crazy,” Battles told investigators.