3 arrested in shooting death of Cleveland police detective

CLEVELAND (NewsNation Now)  — Police arrested three people Friday in the shooting death of a veteran Cleveland police officer, according to NewsNation affiliate WJW.

The Cleveland Division of Police confirm Detective James Skernivitz, 53, was shot and killed around 10 p.m. Thursday.

On September 3, 2020 at approximately 10pm, a Cleveland Police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty in the area of W. 65th Street and Storer Avenue. Very little information is available at this time. We are asking that anyone with information call 9-1-1.

— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) September 4, 2020

The 25-year veteran was in the car with another person near West 65th and Storer when the vehicle was shot multiple times. The person in the car with Skernivitz, who police have yet to identify, was also shot and killed. The person in the car with Skernivitz was not a police officer, WJW reports.

Police Chief Calvin Williams told reporters: “Cleveland lost one of its finest.”

It has been more than 10 years since an on-duty Cleveland police officer was fatally shot.

Patrol Officer Derek Owens, 36, was killed in February 2008 while chasing a suspect. Owens caught up to the man, who turned and shot Owens in the abdomen below his bulletproof vest.

The man was found guilty of aggravated murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

NewsNation affiliate WJW and The Associated Press contributed to this report.