DAYTON -- Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said two Dayton Police sergeants acted in self-defense following a police-involved shooting
The two officers fired their weapons at 33-year-old Daniel Holt, killing him Sunday at Island Metro Park on East Helena street.
Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said Holt came to the park armed with an unloaded SKS rifle with bayonet.
Dayton Police Sgt. Mark Pontichtera and Sgt. Andrew Gillig ordered Holt to drop his weapon.
Chief Biehl said Holt ignored their commands and pointed the rifle at the officers.
"The suspect ignored commands, and the gun was pointed at Sgt. Pontichtera. Both sergeants fired in self-defense," Chief Biehl said.
Before the shooting, police said a number of people called 911, reporting Holt was carrying a gun on East Helena. Witnesses said at one point Holt was pointing the gun at cars.
Holt has had three run-ins with police in the past where police said he
was making threats and wanted to kill himself.
On Sunday, police found a note on Holt reading, "Please forgive me, God."
"The content of this may be indicative of suicidal intent," Chief Biehl said.
Holt's best friend Scott Zimmerman said Holt had been fighting brain cancer, and just lost a close friend, and had recently broken up with his girlfriend.
"I just think he couldn't take it anymore, and that was his way of ending it. He wasn't the type to do it on his own. I think he just wanted his pain to be over," Zimmerman said.
The two officers fired their weapons at 33-year-old Daniel Holt, killing him Sunday at Island Metro Park on East Helena street.
Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said Holt came to the park armed with an unloaded SKS rifle with bayonet.
Dayton Police Sgt. Mark Pontichtera and Sgt. Andrew Gillig ordered Holt to drop his weapon.
Chief Biehl said Holt ignored their commands and pointed the rifle at the officers.
"The suspect ignored commands, and the gun was pointed at Sgt. Pontichtera. Both sergeants fired in self-defense," Chief Biehl said.
Before the shooting, police said a number of people called 911, reporting Holt was carrying a gun on East Helena. Witnesses said at one point Holt was pointing the gun at cars.
Holt has had three run-ins with police in the past where police said he
was making threats and wanted to kill himself.
On Sunday, police found a note on Holt reading, "Please forgive me, God."
"The content of this may be indicative of suicidal intent," Chief Biehl said.
Holt's best friend Scott Zimmerman said Holt had been fighting brain cancer, and just lost a close friend, and had recently broken up with his girlfriend.
"I just think he couldn't take it anymore, and that was his way of ending it. He wasn't the type to do it on his own. I think he just wanted his pain to be over," Zimmerman said.
