An Ohio man was fatally shot by a police officer simply after midnight on January 1 after he fired his gun into the air to rejoice the event.

James Williams' spouse, Marquetta Williams, instructed Canton, Ohio's The Repository that firing a gun into the air to rejoice the brand new 12 months was a practice in her neighborhood, and that her 46-year-old husband started firing her AR-15 as they heard their neighbors firing their very own photographs.

After firing a number of photographs, Williams stepped again into his house when he instructed his spouse "I have been shot" and collapsed in the lounge.

In a press release, Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo mentioned police responded to gunfire on the home shortly after midnight. An officer who was exterior of his car fired at Williams out of "worry for his security."

Marquetta Williams mentioned the officer fired at her husband by their 6-foot picket safety fence, with bullet holes later seen by the fence.

"Out of the blue, he mentioned he bought shot, he bought hit," she mentioned. "I do not know the place it got here from. No one mentioned something. They did not say, 'Police.' They did not say, 'Freeze.' They did not say, 'Drop your weapon.' They only shot him."

She referred to as 911, telling The Repository that when she opened the door, "there have been 30-something officers with weapons pointing at us, telling us to get down and are available out of the home with our fingers up."

The stay-at-home father to 4 daughters and two stepdaughters was taken to the hospital, the place he was pronounced useless.

In response to The Repository, the division has declined any additional remark exterior of Angelo's assertion.

Three of Williams' daughters had been in the home that evening, in addition to a few of his prolonged household. His 4 daughters are between the ages of 9 and 15. Marquetta Williams instructed the native newspaper her husband "liked spending time together with his children."

"He was lovable and type. He would provide the shirt off of his again," she mentioned. "He'll be dearly missed. He should not have died the best way that he did. I simply need justice for him."

fireworks, new year
An Ohio man was killed by police throughout a New Yr's Eve celebration after firing his gun into the air.Inventory Picture/Getty Photos

The Ohio Bureau of Legal Investigation is investigating and all proof, together with physique digicam pictures and firearms, has been turned over to the company. The officer concerned has been positioned on administrative responsibility, which is commonplace process in shootings involving police, and his title has not been launched.

No officers have been injured.

The Related Press contributed to this report