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Authorities in Cincinnati released a video showing the harrowing moment when police shot and killed an armed gunman who opened fire on a downtown bank on Thursday morning.
A surveillance video of the headquarters of the Fifth Third Bank near Place de la Fontaine shows the gunman, identified by police as Omar Perez, 29, from Northbend, Ohio, who methodically crosses the building.
Perez, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, trousers and shoulder bag, could be seen behind the safety turnstile, pointing his weapon forward.
John Minchillo / AP
In a clip, a security guard could see a man take off and get safe before Perez walked a few moments later. Isaac described the actions of the security guard as "heroic".
Cincinnati Police Department via WXIX
Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac said Friday at a press conference that the gunman had been caught "shooting at someone he saw".
Later, when Perez seems to see the officers approaching, he turns to flee but is propelled forward after being hit by gunfire.
Isaac also played pictures of two police cameras that hired the suspect and 911 calls signaling the shooting.
Officers approaching the building could hear several gunshots, which "allowed officers to locate the shooter's location," said Isaac.
Cincinnati Police / AP
As the officers ran towards the building, they saw the shooter "firing into the first floor hall," said the police chief.
Four police then engaged the subject, shot him through the window, said Isaac. Isaac said the police fired 11 shots, eight 9mm handguns, two shotguns and a rifle shot.
At the moment a policeman opened the door of the hall, the shooter was on the ground, showing the video of the camera. The police then entered the building, arrested the suspect and began helping the victims, said Isaac.
In a call to 911, a woman can be heard telling an emergency dispatcher that she is locked in a bathroom with other people. The emergency dispatcher told him to stay there and wait for the officers, who were already on the scene.
Meg Vogel / The Enquirer via the USA TODAY network
The 911 center received "hundreds of calls" reporting firing, the emergency dispatcher said.
Three people were killed and two others wounded in the shooting. The wounded are still treated at the hospital, said Isaac.
Perez arrived at the scene in his own vehicle and parked his car in a nearby street, said Isaac. He then entered by the side of the building and opened fire before continuing into the lobby and fired other shots, said Isaac.
John Minchillo / AP
About 4 minutes, 28 seconds passed between the moment Perez fired his first shot and the officers stopped, said Isaac. The emergency dispatcher received the first 911 call about 55 seconds after Perez fired the first shot, Isaac said.
Firefighters determined that Perez had died on the scene, said the police chief. Coroners will determine how many times he has been shot by the police.
Perez was armed with a semi-automatic Taurus 9 mm handgun, which was legally purchased at a Cincinnati gun store in August, said Isaac.
John Minchillo / AP
According to the police chief, he fired 35 shots during the shooting but, while exchanging shots with the police, his gun malfunctioned and got stuck.
Isaac had stated that Perez had about 200 additional cartridges in his briefcase.
The investigators have not yet determined the reason for the shooting. Police believe that he may have tried to reach the federal courthouse.
Perez was not a current or former employee of the bank, said Isaac at a press conference Thursday.
Isaac has been living in Cincinnati since 2015 at seven different addresses. He had received several quotes in the area but had no local criminal background.
Perez also has a "brief criminal history" in South Carolina and Palm Beach, Florida, said Isaac.
Court documents show that Perez filed two lawsuits against NBC Universal, Inc. and CNBC Universal Media in the Southern District of Ohio earlier this year, alleging that oranizations were using his mobile phone and distributing his personal information.
No such show appears to have been broadcast, reported ABC Cincinnati TV.
ABC News & Rachel Katz and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
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