Westlake Police Release Details of CVS Robbery and Shooting and 911 Call: Listen

WESTLAKE, OH — Details of Monday morning's pursuit and shooting have been released by Westlake Police.

The suspect, Devan Desnoyers, robbed the CVS at 30791 Detroit Road at 9:31 a.m. and then fled in a white Mazda before crashing at the intersection of Crocker and Detroit roads, police said. Two officers then shot Desnoyers. Officers at the scene made life-saving efforts including CPR, an AED, and tourniquet application. Desnoyers was then transported to St. John Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Desnoyers had a firearm or a realistic replica of a firearm, which was recovered at the scene, police said.

Westlake officers and federal agents are investigating whether Desnoyers is the same suspect involved in a string of CVS drugstore robberies across the region. Stores in Lakewood, Cleveland and Olmsted Township were hit in the last three weeks. In each of those robberies, opioids were taken and the suspect passed a note saying that he had a gun. The Westshore Enforcement Bureau Narcotics Task Force collated that suspect information and distributed it to area police departments.

Sources have suggested that this robbery was also about acquiring opioids.

Two officers fired their weapons during the incident with Desnoyers. Both officers are male. One is 38 and has 13 years of experience. The second is 28 and has three years of experience. A third officer's cruiser was struck by the suspect's vehicle during the chase. That officer was not injured.

BCI is on scene to handle the crime scene investigation. The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave, as is customary in an officer-involved shooting. Westlake police say that all indications are that the officers’ use of force was appropriate.

Listen to the 911 call made by CVS to Westlake Police, during which a very calm employee describes the suspect's car and his direction:

North Olmsted, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Bay Village police departments provided mutual aid officers to assist in securing the scene.

Image from Shutterstock