LAKEWOOD, OHIO — Authorities are investigating a tragic chain of events that left three people dead early Saturday morning after a fatal shooting in Cleveland, a police pursuit through Lakewood, and an apparent suicide involving the suspected gunman.
According to the Lakewood Police Department, the incident began at approximately 4:26 a.m. on June 21 when a man contacted his ex-wife and allegedly told her he had shot two people inside a home on Chesterland Avenue in Cleveland and intended to take his own life. The woman immediately alerted authorities, prompting officers to respond to the residence.
As police made their way to the scene, officers spotted a pickup truck leaving the area at a high rate of speed. After the driver failed to stop, a brief pursuit ensued before the vehicle came to a halt near 1280 Warren Road in Lakewood.
Police said the driver exited the truck while holding a handgun to his head. Officers repeatedly attempted to de-escalate the situation and urged him to surrender peacefully. Despite those efforts, the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Authorities later identified him as a 45-year-old Fairview Park resident.
When investigators entered the Chesterland Avenue residence, they discovered two victims who had died from gunshot wounds. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified them as 35-year-old Richard Eastin of Cleveland and 33-year-old Amanda Leigh Wakut of Lakewood. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting. Authorities are working to establish a complete timeline of events, determine the relationships between those involved, and identify a motive. Investigators are also reviewing evidence collected from the residence, the pursuit scene, and other relevant communications.
The incident has left residents of Cleveland and Lakewood mourning the loss of Amanda Leigh Wakut and Richard Eastin while raising renewed concern about the devastating impact of domestic violence. Friends and community members have shared messages of sympathy for the victims’ families as they cope with the sudden tragedy.
Officials have urged the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation remains active. Anyone with information that may assist detectives is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
The Lakewood Police Department and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office are expected to provide additional updates as the investigation progresses.