Suspect Opens Fire on Officer, Triggering Intense Lima Police Shootout

A Routine Traffic Stop Turns Violent

A routine traffic stop in Lima, Ohio, suddenly erupted into gunfire on October 31, 2025. Officers stopped a vehicle near St. John’s Avenue and Second Street at about 10:40 p.m. Because the vehicle had multiple occupants, several officers were present during the stop.

Officer Approaches the Vehicle

Officer Bryce Metz approached the vehicle from the passenger side and began speaking with the occupants. According to police and the released body-camera footage, 35-year-old Emerson Jeffrey was sitting in the back seat.

During the conversation, Jeffrey reportedly made a statement indicating that he was about to do something. Metz then asked another officer to remove Jeffrey from the vehicle. Almost immediately afterward, gunfire erupted.

Shots Fired at the Officer

The footage shows Jeffrey allegedly firing a handgun from inside the vehicle. Metz was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. Despite being wounded, he was able to radio other officers and report that he had been shot.

Other officers quickly moved into position as the scene became an active shooting. Commands were given to the occupants, while officers attempted to determine where the gunman was located.

Police Return Fire

Officers then exchanged gunfire with Jeffrey. Multiple shots were fired toward the vehicle as officers attempted to stop the threat. A passenger inside the vehicle was also injured during the exchange.

Once officers determined that the immediate threat had been stopped, they moved toward the injured individuals and began providing emergency medical assistance.

Officer Survives the Shooting

Metz was transported to Mercy Health–St. Rita’s Medical Center for treatment. He was later released from the hospital and began his recovery. Jeffrey was also wounded during the exchange and was transported to a hospital in Columbus, where he remained under law-enforcement supervision.

Investigation Continues

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the independent investigation into the officers’ use of force, while the Lima Police Department conducted a separate investigation into the suspect’s actions. Seven officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave, consistent with department procedure following a deadly-force incident.

The released dash-camera and body-camera footage provides a detailed look at how quickly the traffic stop escalated from a routine police encounter into a life-threatening exchange of gunfire. What happened in those few seconds left an officer wounded and triggered a major investigation into the shooting.