'Active shooter' situation at Ravenna VA Clinic resolved; area reopened following lockdown

Jeff Saunders and Doug Livingston, Record-Courier
·4 min read
Police officers talk outside the Ravenna VA Clinic on North Chestnut Street on Wednesday morning during an active shooter incident.
Police officers talk outside the Ravenna VA Clinic on North Chestnut Street on Wednesday morning during an active shooter incident.

The area around the Ravenna Veterans Affairs Clinic on North Chestnut Street was reopened and lockdowns at a nearby high school and hospital were lifted after a man reportedly fired a shot from a gun into the ground Wednesday morning at the clinic.

In a media release issued at a little before noon Wednesday, Ravenna police said they responded to the VA clinic, 6751 N. Chestnut St., for an armed man outside the building who fired a single round from a shotgun into the ground. A VA officer witnessed this and immediately put the building on lockdown. Officers from several surrounding agencies then responded and secured the scene.

Traffic on North Chestnut Street was rerouted and Ravenna High School was placed on lockdown. University Hospitals Portage Medical Center and Ravenna Woodlands nursing home were also notified. Officers made initial contact with the alleged gunman, a 63-year-old Ravenna man. A SWAT team negotiator then responded to the scene and was able to de-escalate the situation.

The release said the man did not threaten officers or anyone else and surrendered to police without incident. The standoff lasted about 90 minutes and ended at approximately 9:55 a.m.

Police said the man told them he was dealing with a recent death in the family and was in crisis. He was immediately transferred to UH Portage Medical Center. . There are currently no charges.

VA officer on the phone leaving the Ravenna VA Out Patient Clinic on Chestnut street.
VA officer on the phone leaving the Ravenna VA Out Patient Clinic on Chestnut street.

Speidel's pharmacy owner watches from across the street, recounts scene

Paul Marva, owner of Speidel's Medical Arts Pharmacy in the North Chestnut Medical Arts building next door to the VA clinic, said he pulled into his parking lot at about 8:30 a.m., just as police were arriving.

He said he watched the situation unfold from his pharmacy window. Marva said he saw an elderly man drop what looked like a pistol to the ground at about 10 a.m. before the man was arrested and taken away in an ambulance.

"He was all hunched over and then he stood up and walked toward the police," Marva said. "The four Ravenna police officers walked up to him and arrested him."

Access to the hospital was limited and the high school was on a soft lockdown for several hours.

Ravenna Police Department: Law enforcement train for active shooter

Police close Chestnut street at S.R.14 as the standoff continues.
Police close Chestnut street at S.R.14 as the standoff continues.

Chief Deputy Ralph Spidalieri of the Portage County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the scene to assist Ravenna police with traffic control, stopping motorists and pedestrians from entering the area.

Ravenna VA Clinic staff sheltered in place; facility closed today due to 'emergency situation'

The VA clinic posted on social media that it would be closed Wednesday. Clinic staff sheltered in place during the incident.

“We are thankful that VA staff and local law enforcement acted swiftly and appropriately to ensure the safety of all involved today,” said Jill Dietrich Mellon, CEO of Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, which runs the VA clinic. “We would also like to applaud the swift actions of our VA employee who noticed the man in distress and alerted authorities, and the actions of our security guard to keep everyone safe. We all play a role in caring for those in crisis.”

Ravenna High School was in a 'soft lockdown'

The high school ended its lockdown shortly after 10 a.m. In a second message to parents Wednesday morning, Principal Beth Coleman said the school was out of lockdown and back on schedule, with students back in class.

She thanked Ravenna police and "all those who helped with the situation down the street."

In a first call at about 9:30 a.m., Coleman assured parents the school was taking precautions.

"Ravenna High School is currently in a 'soft lockdown' as a precautionary measure due to a situation in the area," Coleman told parents. "No students or staff are in danger."

UH Portage Medical Center ends lockdown. 'Everyone at the hospital is safe'

George Stamatis, a spokesman for University Hospitals, said in an email to the Record-Courier that a lockdown at the Ravenna hospital ended around 11 a.m.

"Everyone at the hospital is safe, and caregivers are continuing to take care of their patients," Stamatis wrote in an earlier email to the Record-Courier announcing the lockdown. "All departments and patients have been informed, and entry/exit to the hospital is not permitted at this time. The ED remains open for emergencies. Other patient appointments for today are being rescheduled. The UH Portage local police department is working closely with the Ravenna police department for further updates and direction."

Help available for those in mental health crisis

In its statement, the VA reminded people that help is available to those experiencing mental health issues.

For veterans experiencing a mental health crisis, VA has resources available. The Veterans Crisis Line is available at 1-800-273-8255, press 1.

Help locally is available 24 hours a day by calling the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County at 330-678-HELP or 330-296-3555. You can also text "4hope" to 741741.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 'Active shooter' situation reported at VA clinic in Ravenna, Ohio