(Mentor) - Officials of the City of Mentor gave an update Friday morning on Thursday's mass shooting at the Mentor Greens Mobile Estates that took the lives of three victims and wounded another. The fourth person who died was the suspected gunman.
This is the statement released by the city:
At approximately 4:30 PM on November 16, 2023, the Mentor Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Mentor Greens Mobile Estates, located at 7166 Mentor Avenue, for shots fired.
The first officer on scene found a 62-year-old female deceased in the roadway, later identified as the property manager, Laura Colon.
The second officer on the scene found a male victim nearby who was shot in the stomach. The officer pulled him to safety, performed CPR, and then carried him approximately 60-yards to safety from where he was transported to Cleveland Clinic Mentor Hospital. That victim has been identified as Terrance Mathis, Sr., 63 who later died from his injuries.
The third and fourth officers arrived on scene and found a third deceased victim, Thomas Galizia, 81.
A fourth victim, Charles Skala, 63, was found in his home shot in the shoulder and right thigh and was escorted out by officers and transported to University Hospitals Willoughby, where he remains in stable condition.
While attending to the victims, the four officers were fired upon by the suspect from his mobile home unit. The officers took cover and did not return fire. The four officers then formed a combat rescue team and were able to remove the first victim, Laura Colon, from the scene.
Shortly thereafter, additional units, including the Mentor SWAT Team, Lake County SWAT, and West End SWAT team, arrived and established a perimeter. Neighboring residents were evacuated for their safety.
According to witnesses, the suspect, identified as Jason Norris, 47, was involved in an altercation with the property manager and was facing an eviction notice. Norris brandished two handguns and opened fire on the property manager as well as three other victims who came to her assistance. Norris then retreated to his unit prior to the arrival of Mentor Police.
The Mentor Police Hostage Negotiation Team attempted to make contact with Norris throughout the evening without success. At approximately 8:15 PM, a tactical drone was deployed into Norris’ dwelling unit where he was observed with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Lake County SWAT entered and secured the unit shortly thereafter confirming Norris’ death. In addition to the two handguns, a mounted long-rifle, as well as numerous ammunition magazines, were found inside the unit.
All residents were able to return to their homes by approximately 5:00 AM.
The City of Mentor opened the Mentor Senior Center as a shelter for the displaced residents, assisted by the American Red Cross.
The scene remains under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Mentor Victim’s Advocate and the Lake County Crisis Team are engaged with the impacted residents to attend to their needs.
The City of Mentor extends its condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this senseless tragedy.
The City of Mentor extends its gratitude to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Willoughby Police Department, Willoughby Hills Police Department, Lake County Narcotics, Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI, ATF, US Marshalls Violent Fugitive Task Force, Lake County Prosecutors Office, Lake County Coroner, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Eastlake Fire Department, Kirtland Fire Department, Willoughby Fire Department, Painesville Township Fire Department, Willoughby Hills Fire Department, Concord Township Fire Department, Fairport Harbor Fire Department, Laketran, and the American Red Cross for their support during this incident.
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