HOWLAND TWP., Ohio (WKBN) –A suspect has been apprehended following a 10-hour standoff Tuesday night in Howland Township that ended in an exchange of gunfire.

Four officers and the suspect, 35-year-old Randall Fife, were hit.

The standoff began Tuesday around 8 p.m. and ended shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday when Howland Police Chief Nick Roberts said gunshots were exchanged, causing four officers to be hit with shrapnel from buckshot round.

Roberts said that two officers were taken to the hospital. Their condition is not known. Roberts also said that Fife was hit and is at the hospital. His condition is also unknown.

Fife is charged with three counts of kidnapping and two counts of domestic violence.

Police were called to Highlawn Avenue SE in the Bolindale neighborhood between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, where Howland fire Chief James Pantalone says Fife barricaded himself inside a home with three other people inside.

Neighbors say it was an unusual series of events for this neighborhood.

“There aren’t too many times a SWAT pulls in front of your house and cops. It’s always quiet here,” said Barry Baer who lives nearby.

Authorities tried to call Fife out all night long. Roberts said that Fife answered the phone several times but never spoke with negotiators.

Calls made to 911 captured the frantic moments leading up to the standoff.

Caller: “I’m calling because my boyfriend’s brother is going crazy. We need the cops here.”
911 Operator: “Does he have a mental health history?”
Caller: “Oh God, yes.”
911 Operator: “OK.”

Police say they have dealt with Fife in the past.

Multiple emergency response crews, including the Mahoning County Emergency Management Mobile Command Post, the Mahoning County Crisis Response Team, and armored rescue vehicles, were there while officials worked on negotiating with Fife.

Roberts said that the Mahoning Valley Crisis Response Team and the State Patrol Swat Team had concerns about the people held inside the house so they decided to breech the back door.

Youngstown Police Department Internal Affairs investigators were on the scene because at least one of their officers, who is on the CRT team, fired their weapon.

Detective Sgt. Sharon Cole of the IAD confirmed there is an investigation, but she would not say how many officers may fired their weapons. It is standard protocol for internal affairs to investigate a shooting even if the officer or officers are working for another entity at the time, like the CRT team.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is investigating the case.

Not far from the standoff scene, Deforest Avenue near Niles Road SE was blocked during part of the incident for a crash involving three vehicles. Police said two unmarked police cars heading to the scene on Highlawn Avenue were involved. One hit a KIA head-on. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital but will be okay. The road is no longer blocked.