Police gun down hammer-wielding woman beater
VIDEO - Officers were called shortly before 4 a.m. after a 911 caller said she heard screaming and fighting in the apartment below her...
Police shot and killed a man outside of a Hamilton, Ohio apartment Sunday morning as he severely beat a woman.
Officers were called shortly before 4 a.m. after a 911 caller said she heard screaming and fighting in the apartment below her.
“It’s just getting worse and worse,” the caller said.
Police said when officers arrived, they opened the unlocked apartment door and found 25-year-old Joshua Berkheimer on top of Jamie Belty, beating her with a hammer.
“The officers ordered him to drop the hammer, and instead of dropping the hammer, he continued assaulting the victim,” said Sgt. Craig Bucheit, of Hamilton police.
Officer Casey Johnson shot Berkheimer once in the chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Belty, 23, suffered serious head injuries in the attack and responding officers worked to make sure she continued breathing until rescue crews arrived.
Belty was taken by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition on Monday morning.
Her father told police that as of late Sunday, Belty had not regained consciousness.
Johnson has been placed on routine administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
Neighbors said Berkheimer had moved into the apartment building Friday.
Officials said the pair had dated previously.
