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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -ÊOhio police shot and killed a Nappanee man after he led them on a chase and tried to take a hostage in a hospital Monday night.
According to the Bowling Green Police Department, Daniel J. Rice Jr., 30, Nappanee, was shot and killed at Wood County Hospital, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Earlier in the day, Rice stole a 2001 Cadillac DeVille from the BP Station on Parker Street in Warsaw after the vehicle's owner went inside the store. Officers from Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department chased the vehicle shortly after it was reported stolen, but they lost contact with the car, which was last seen on Armstrong Road near Oswego. Later in the evening, the car was found abandoned near Cygnet, Ohio. Ohio State Police believe Rice abandoned the car after it ran out of gas.
After abandoning the car, Rice got a ride to Bowling Green, Ohio, where he stole a pickup from a gas station and eventually led Ohio State Police on a chase. During the chase, police tried to stop the pickup by deploying road spikes, but Rice drove around them. Rice then abandoned the stolen pickup and fled on foot to Wood County Hospital.
After running into an occupied treatment room at the hospital, Rice said he had a weapon and told people in the room he was going to hurt them. While in the room, an Ohio State trooper attempted to taser Rice to no avail before Bowling Green police officer Alan Baer shot Rice once.
Rice, who had a criminal history and was wearing what is believed to be an electronic monitor on his ankle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police do not know what prompted Rice to steal the vehicles and flee. The incident remains under investigation.
