Officer cleared in deadly shootout

A Springfield police officer who shot and killed a London man during a gunfight on Maiden Lane has been cleared of charges by a grand jury.

Officer Greg Ivory, a 10-year veteran with the Springfield Police Division, was presented with an imminent threat by Craig Frye Sr., 41, when he responded to a domestic violence call Aug. 24, a Clark County grand jury declared this week after a review of the case.

“… We find that Officer Gregory Ivory was reasonable and justified in his use of deadly force against Craig A. Frye Sr.,” said the grand jury’s investigative report, released by the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the report, Frye had a history of domestic violence with his wife Cassandra, 37, and became engaged in a domestic dispute with her and her boyfriend, Juan Torres, outside a home in the 1700 block of Maiden Lane.

As Ivory arrived on scene, Frye pointed a pistol at his wife. When Ivory ordered Frye to drop the weapon, he turned the gun on the officer and opened fire. Ivory was struck once in the lower abdomen—which was protected by his ballistic vest.

Ivory took cover behind his cruiser and returned fire, striking Frye multiple times in his lower abdomen and arms as Frye fled with his weapon toward North Street, the report said.

The gunfight lasted about 38 seconds, police said. Frye was found by officers on North Street in some bushes with the gun still in his hand. An officer struggled with Frye to take control of the weapon, which was still loaded with a live round that had become jammed in the chamber, the grand jury report said.

After detaining Frye, the officer carried him to the street for an ambulance and administered first aid. Frye was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center where he died of his injuries, according to the grand jury report.

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