Cincinnati police identify stabbing suspect who was shot by officers

The Cincinnati Police Department identified the suspect in the stabbing who was fatally shot by officers near the Music Hall on June 27 as Juan Mack, 48, during a news conference Friday.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the shooting happened Thursday night after police chased Mack, who was suspected of stabbing a woman multiple times during a “domestic” incident. The woman underwent surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center but remains in critical condition, Theetge said.

After arriving at the scene of the stabbing incident on Parkcrest Lane, police began chasing Mack. According to Theetge, Mack pointed his gun at police multiple times as they chased him.

Mack then got out of the vehicle he was driving, a blue Toyota Camry, at an intersection near 12th Street and Elm Street and fled on foot with his gun. The officers chased him and repeatedly ordered Mack to put down his gun, according to surveillance footage. They fired several foam bullets, but Theetge said they had no effect.

The city tweeted that an “emergency” was occurring near the Music Hall at 7:21 p.m. Thursday and informed the public that police had closed part of Elm Street.

After Mack ignored the officers and approached the Music Hall, four officers fired their weapons and killed him, Theetge said. The officers have not been identified.

“My condolences to the family. They have lost a loved one,” Theetge said.

Ken Kober, president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement on Facebook Thursday night that Mack was armed with a “semi-automatic handgun.”

“These officers followed their training and protected their lives by shooting the suspect,” Kober said in the release. “Thankfully, no innocent people or officers were injured.”

Theetge reiterated that the police's job is to end the threat, and she praised the officers' “heroic efforts.”

The stabbing victim has not yet been identified.