Public Safety

Tallmadge man killed after firing at officers at end of police chase in Akron

Akron, Ohio • November 13, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

Photo: Ohio State Highway Patrol (file photo)

A 62-year-old Tallmadge man was killed Friday morning after he fled a traffic stop in Norton, led police on a chase into Akron and fired at officers, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. No officers were injured.

Robert Ashley was driving a 2004 Volvo S40 when Norton police tried to stop him for a traffic violation Friday morning and he fled, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol news release. Troopers from the Akron post were asked to help Norton police with the pursuit and joined it on Interstate 77.

Troopers used a precision immobilization technique to stop the Volvo in the 1200 block of South Main Street in Akron, near West Crosier Street and Old Main Street, the release said. The chase ended in the parking lot of the Downtown Laundromat at 1035 S. Main St.

After the car was stopped, Ashley produced a weapon and fired at officers, who returned fire, according to the release. He was pronounced dead after life-saving measures failed. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the fatality.

Authorities have not yet said whether a trooper or a Norton officer fired the shots that killed Ashley. Akron police were not involved in the shooting, according to Lt. Michael Murphy of the Akron Police Department, who said Akron officers were notified of the incident at 9:46 a.m. and helped control the scene.

Traffic on Old Main Street and Main Street was shut down for several hours while investigators worked the scene. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called in to investigate the shooting, and the Norton Police Department said it has no comment at this time.

Sources: Akron Beacon Journal, "Tallmadge man killed in police shooting after chase fired at officers first" (Nov. 13, 2026, full text verified); WKYC / 3News, "Shooting in Akron: BCI requested by OSHP to investigate incident also involving Norton police" (Nov. 13, 2026, verified); Ohio State Highway Patrol news release as reported by the Beacon Journal.