A law enforcement official involved in a fatal shooting in Middletown on the night before Christmas will not face any criminal charges. This decision comes following a grand jury verdict that deemed the shooting as a justified act. The Middletown police dispatched officers in response to a call regarding a reported brawl between two individuals at a residential unit located on the 1000 block of Park Lane, with the incident taking place after 7 p.m. on December 24, 2024.
Upon their arrival, the police personnel approached the dwelling and made their presence and identities known. The police narrative indicates that Christopher Gorak, a 50-year-old man, answered their knock on the apartment door. Opening it, Mr. Gorak allegedly brandished a gun, aiming it directly at the officers.
Information from the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that an officer took the decision to fire at Gorak, discharging their weapon four times. The emergent threat of deadly harm was countered with lethal force swiftly—within three-tenths of one second—by the officer nearest to the apartment’s entrance, the same officer who earlier had announced their presence.
The tragic consequence of the quick encounter was Mr. Gorak being fatally struck by the four bullets fired by the officer. This incident did not result in any physical harm to the officers present at the scene.
The ensuing autopsy report threw light on Gorak’s condition at the time of the incident. The report revealed high levels of alcohol in Gorak’s system, indicating heavy intoxication, and also confirmed the presence of marijuana.
The entirety of the tense episode was recorded by the police officers’ body-worn cameras, which are standard issue gear for law enforcement. This footage offered an unedited and reliable account of the chain of events that transpired.
The Butler County Prosecutor’s Office conveyed that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, an independent law enforcement agency, was brought into the picture to conduct an impartial examination of the incident.
Post the detailed scrutiny of the evidence, gathered facts, and comprehensive history check, the grand jury concluded its deliberations. No indictment was to be brought against the officer, or any of his colleagues, involved in this regrettable incident. This was noted in the findings released by the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office.