An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to killing a Sandusky police officer.
As the trial was just about to get underway, Kevin Randleman took a plea deal that spares him from the death penalty.
This was a surprise move. Attorneys were preparing for this trial to take about a month. But now with Randleman changing his plea to guilty, the judge has already sentenced him to life without parole.
A tree dedicated to fallen Sandusky police officer Andrew Dunn stands outside the Erie County Courthouse. Inside that building the man accused of shooting Dunn back in March of 2011 changed his plea to guilty of aggravated murder.
Randleman admitted he shot Officer Dunn who stopped him while Randleman was riding a bicycle.
"Today was a very emotional day," says Assistant Erie County Prosecutor Jeanne Lippert.
Lippert says Friday morning, at the start of the second day of Randleman's mental competency hearing, the defendant took the plea deal which took the death penalty off the table.
It's a plea deal Lippert says reflected the wishes of Dunn's family.
"The family had finally come together and wanted closure, wanted this to be over and it's best for them this way," says Lippert.
Dunn's family was in court Friday morning, but could not be reached Friday afternoon. Lippert says Randleman said he was sorry and asked for forgiveness.
"They're still angry but they're a very loving family, so they forgave," says Lippert. "Seriously I think everybody believes at this point this was the right thing and justice has been done."
Randleman has moved out of the Erie County Jail and he is headed to prison.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:43:07 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:24 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:24:34 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Lake Township residents recall a twister that ripped through their area almost three years ago.The Oklahoma tornado victims are on the minds of those in Lake Township who suffered deaths and damage in 2010.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:04:03 GMT
Two Toledo firefighters suffered minor Monday morning after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan.
Two Toledo firefighters went to the hospital Monday after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan. One was treated for a minor burn and the other for heat exhaustion. The injured firefighters returned to duty Monday.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:49:55 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on the east side Tuesday morning. A firebomb ignited the porch of a home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue. Three adults and two children were inside. They were able to make it out safely.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:31:38 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:43:07 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:49:55 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on the east side Tuesday morning. A firebomb ignited the porch of a home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue. Three adults and two children were inside. They were able to make it out safely.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:31:38 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:30 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:30:27 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:15 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:15:41 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:18:47 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened some 14 years ago.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:14:35 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
A large tornado roared through the southern part of Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. Damage is extensive. Video showed blocks of flattened homes and vehicles tossed upside down.
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