In Union County, a grand jury determined that the actions of Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Matejko in the shooting of 33-year-old Matthew Todhunter were justified. The incident occurred on May 30 after multiple 911 calls reported Todhunter entering homes with a gun, according to Marysville police. Union County Prosecutor David Phillips confirmed the grand jury’s decision in a news release.

Incident Details

The 911 callers reported children were present in the home, and Todhunter allegedly told one child, “Tonight is the night I’m going to die.” He also reportedly threatened his estranged wife by pulling a gun on her.

Around 6:30 p.m., Deputy Matejko arrived at the scene in Marysville and saw Todhunter sitting in a truck. Present at the scene were Todhunter’s girlfriend and her mother, who were directed to step aside.

Bodycam Footage Released

Footage from bodycam and dashcam showed the deputy ordering Todhunter to raise his hands and step out of the vehicle multiple times. When Todhunter finally stepped out, he pointed what appeared to be a Glock-style handgun. Within a second of being told to drop the weapon, the deputy fired at least five shots, hitting Todhunter.

Later, one of the women informed the deputy that Todhunter had been holding a BB gun. Investigators confirmed it was a pellet gun.

Aftermath

Emergency responders rushed Todhunter to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation found that Todhunter was suicidal and ruled his death as “law enforcement forced action.”

Phillips stated, “The remarks he shared with his family prior to the shooting clearly showed his suicidal intentions.” He added that the deputy had no way of knowing the firearm was a replica and acted appropriately given the threat of deadly force.

The prosecutor stated that an officer is authorized to use deadly force if they have a reasonable belief that the suspect presents a serious danger to life, even if it is later determined that the weapon was not genuine.