By MARK GILLISPIE Associated Press, and staff
CLEVELAND (AP) — Officials say a Cleveland detective who had just joined a federal violence task force was shot and killed in his unmarked car along with an informant during what officials describe as a drug operation.
UPDATE: 9/4/20 5:28 p.m.
Two juveniles and an adult are being questioned.
Police Chief Calvin Williams would not provide any details about Thursday night’s killing of 53-year-old Detective James Skernivitz and 50-year-old Scott Dingess during a news briefing Friday.
Skernivitz was sworn in to the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force this week. It’s unclear whether he was working with the task force or a Cleveland police unit Thursday night.
Governor Mike DeWine has ordered that U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff in Skernivitz’s honor.
DeWine ordered flags lowered to half-staff on all public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County and at the Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center and Rhodes Tower in Columbus until sunset on the day of Skernivitz’s funeral, the governonr’s office said.