Authorities have released body camera footage from a deadly shooting involving a Canton police officer that took place early Saturday morning. The footage begins with an officer outside of a home in the 2300 block of 10th Street Southwest shortly after midnight. He can be heard relaying information about his location when gunshots ring out from a fenced in area nearby.
“The officer, who was outside of his vehicle, confronted a subject that began shooting a firearm. The officer, in fear for his safety, fired his duty weapon at the subject and struck him.”
Authorities say the man was taken to an area hospital, but later died. He has since been identified as 46 year-old James Williams. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the situation.
Williams’ wife told the Canton Repository that he was shooting celebratory gunfire into the air to ring in the New Year. “Out of the blue, he said he got shot, he got hit. I don’t know where it came from. Nobody said anything. They didn’t say, ‘Police.’ They didn’t say, ‘Freeze.’ They didn’t say, ‘Drop your weapon.’ They just shot him.”
