Attempted Murder Suspect Dies of Self-Inflicted Gunshot During Standoff with U.S. Marshals

A 24-year-old man sought on attempted murder charges died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a standoff with the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in Cleveland, authorities confirmed.

According to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service, Dionte Hawthorne Jr. was being sought by the Brooklyn Police Department following a violent incident earlier in the day. Investigators stated that Hawthorne had forcibly entered an apartment on Northridge Oval in Brooklyn, Ohio, before 6 a.m., where he encountered two occupants. Police reports indicate he shot a male victim twice and threatened a female occupant before fleeing the scene.

Federal task force members, assisting Brooklyn police, tracked Hawthorne to a residence on Scovill Avenue in Cleveland later that afternoon. Upon arrival, officers spoke with two women at the location who confirmed the suspect was inside the home, according to investigators.

Authorities attempted to communicate with Hawthorne, calling out to him to surrender. Shortly after, officers heard gunfire originating from inside the residence. The Cuyahoga County SWAT team responded to the scene and subsequently discovered Hawthorne deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“This is a difficult conclusion to this case for everyone involved,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement regarding the operation. “Law enforcement always hopes for and works toward no further violence during arrest attempts.”

Investigative Outlook

The death of the suspect marks the conclusion of the active manhunt, mitigating further immediate danger to the public regarding this specific case. Law enforcement officials will likely continue to coordinate with the coroner’s office to formalize the findings of the death investigation. It is important to note that although the suspect is deceased, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.