Ohio State Highway Patrol Involved in Fatal Shooting After High-Speed Chase

Toledo, Ohio – Newly released body and dash cam footage from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) depicts the moments leading to the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Donovan Joyner following a high-speed chase in late November.

According to the OSHP, the pursuit began around 12:40 a.m. on November 30, 2024, when the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office reported a vehicle failing to stop for a traffic violation. Troopers joined the chase as the vehicle traveled through Defiance and Henry Counties before crossing into Wood County. The suspect’s vehicle eventually left the roadway and veered into a field near the intersection of State Route 199 and State Route 582.

At that point, Joyner, the driver, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. OSHP officers observed him firing multiple shots as he ran, prompting a confrontation. Dash cam footage shows troopers commanding Joyner to drop his handgun before he allegedly pointed the weapon at officers. In response, OSHP troopers fired at Joyner, striking him. Although life-saving procedures were attempted immediately after the shooting, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Joyner, a Defiance resident, was identified as a registered sex offender with a criminal history. Court records show he pleaded guilty to charges related to the attempted illegal use of a minor in 2019 in Williams County. He was also arrested in 2023 in Lucas County for a parole violation. Earlier in 2024, Joyner faced charges for operating a vehicle under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

No officers were injured during the chase or the subsequent shooting, and a passenger in Joyner’s vehicle, who was not involved in the altercation, was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) are leading the investigation into the incident. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.