Man attacks Ohio police, steals cruiser before being shot dead
Bodycam footage from the Ohio State Patrol captured a dramatic and violent incident on April 4, 2025. The footage shows a suspect, identified as DeShawn Leeth, 30, attacking a trooper after being involved in a single-car rollover crash on the Ohio Turnpike in Springfield Township near the Pennsylvania state line.
According to the Ohio State Patrol, an officer arrived at the scene of the crash and encountered Leeth on the shoulder of the highway. Leeth then proceeded to attack the officer, yelling “in the name of Jesus” as he pushed the trooper. During the scuffle, Leeth threatened the officer, saying, “You’re gonna get hurt. Next time you touch me, you gonna die.”
Despite the officer using a Taser on him, Leeth continued to resist and threw punches at the officer. The situation escalated into a physical altercation, with Leeth overpowering the officer and knocking him to the ground. The trooper sustained minor injuries and was later treated at a hospital.
Following the altercation, Leeth managed to steal the officer’s patrol car and drove into Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Police then became involved in a pursuit with Leeth. When Leeth crashed the stolen cruiser, he once again attacked officers, leading to his fatal shooting at the crash site.
Leeth was known in the community as the executive director of Under-Dawg-Nation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping at-risk children affected by violence. Despite his community work, court records revealed that Leeth had a criminal history, serving seven years in jail in Michigan after pleading guilty to eight home invasion charges from incidents in 2012 and 2016. He was released in 2023.
The Ohio State Patrol declined to provide further comment on the incident, while Fox News Digital reached out to the Pennsylvania State Police for more information.
In conclusion, the bodycam footage captured a chaotic and tragic series of events that ultimately led to the death of DeShawn Leeth. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the unpredictable nature of police work.
