An anonymous attacker was fatally wounded by police at the Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on Saturday. Police responded to reports that the man had threatened and chased a woman while armed with a knife, and the man also had a gun, which he refused to put down despite warnings from the police officers.

A man was shot and killed by police early Saturday morning following a dramatic gunfire exchange at Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. According to authorities, the incident occurred after the man, armed with both a handgun and a knife, posed a serious threat to several individuals at the hotel.

The confrontation unfolded on the fourth floor of the hotel after police officers responded to reports of an armed man chasing a woman around the premises. The suspect reportedly threatened her with a knife, and before the officers arrived, he had also allegedly threatened another man in the hotel. According to police, there was no known connection between the two men.

Violent standoff with police

At approximately 1 am, Lawrenceburg police officers were called to the scene and confronted the suspect in a hotel hallway. Authorities said the suspect refused repeated commands to drop his weapon. Despite multiple warnings, he opened fire on the officers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

The suspect was shot at least once by the police officers. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured during the incident. Indiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Stephen Wheeles confirmed in a statement, "The suspect shot first, and the officers returned fire. The suspect was fatally shot during the exchange."

Investigation underway

As per standard protocol in officer-involved shootings, the three Lawrenceburg officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the incident is conducted. ISP is leading the investigation to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified.

"The investigation is ongoing," Wheeles said in a statement. "At the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the Dearborn County Prosecutor's Office for review." The identity of the officers involved has not yet been released, and their names will remain withheld until the investigation is complete.

Suspect's identity to be confirmed

Authorities have not disclosed the suspect's name pending official identification from the Dearborn County Coroner's Office and his next of kin being notified first. An autopsy is expected to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Police also have yet to reveal what prompted the man to chase and threaten the woman, or whether there was any prior relationship between them.

In addition to threatening individuals with a knife, police believe the suspect had fired shots in the hotel before officers arrived. These initial reports suggest that the situation had escalated to a dangerous level even before law enforcement engaged with the suspect.

Despite the high tension during the incident, no other hotel guests were injured. Following the shooting, police and hotel staff worked to relocate guests staying in the immediate area of the confrontation to ensure their safety. Officers also checked on other guests to confirm that no additional threats remained.

Community reaction and the next steps

The shooting has left the local community in shock, as this type of violence is rare in Lawrenceburg, a small city located about 30 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. In the coming days, the community will await the results of the investigation to learn more about the circumstances that led to the tragic events.

The Hollywood Casino & Hotel management has not released a statement on the incident at this time, and it remains unclear how long the affected part of the hotel will remain closed as authorities continue their investigation.