In a shocking turn of events, shots were fired inside the Joseph Chevrolet car dealership in Colerain Township Thursday, moments before police arrived on the scene. According to reports from WCPO, police body camera footage captured the tense moments as the officer on the scene shouted, “Shots fired inside!” while seeking cover before approaching the dealership.
The incident occurred in the showroom, where 21-year-old Rashid Dewees, a dealership employee, was later found sitting with his hands raised. A handgun was seen on the floor near his feet. Despite the tense situation, no injuries were reported. Police quickly apprehended Dewees and forcefully took him to the ground before securing the firearm.
In the body camera footage, officers are heard shouting at Dewees, and one officer is recorded warning, “I will f****** shoot you,” to which Dewees responded with surprise, “Oh, wow.” The entire exchange, captured on video, shows police working quickly to neutralize the threat and secure the dealership, which took approximately 15 minutes.
As the officers continued their sweep of the dealership, they discovered several employees hiding in offices and the body shop. The dealership later confirmed that Dewees is no longer employed there.
Dewees, who admitted he was “stressed at work” during the investigation, was arrested and charged with aggravated menacing and inducing panic. A judge set his bond at $20,000 and imposed a no-contact order with the dealership if he posts bond.
This alarming incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of workplace stress and the need for improved security measures to handle potential threats in any environment.
