Officer Lucas Rose fired at Anderson six times but none hit the suspect. Instead, one of Rose's slugs struck the handgun Anderson brandished, Biehl said.
Police were pursuing Anderson to question him in the disappearance of 25-year-old Nichelle McKnight and her 4-year-old son Zaden, both missing since March 25, officials said. Biehl said the evidence strongly indicates that McKnight and her son are dead, and he is asking for the public's help to locate them.
"It's very frustrating. But somebody knows something out there and we're asking them to call and help," the chief said.
On March 29, Laverne Michelle Williams contacted police and reported that her daughter and grandson were missing, officials said. McKnight and Zaden were last seen leaving her home at 609 Homewood Ave. at 11 p.m. March 25, and Biehl said the last person they were seen with was Anderson. Police identified Anderson as a suspect, and detectives asked him multiple times to come talk to them about the case, but he never showed up.
Monday, detectives with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) began monitoring a home on Birchwood Avenue. Police spotted Anderson leaving the home in a car, followed him and tried to pull him over at North Main Street and Burton Avenue. Anderson sped away, jumped out of the car and ran into a wooded area, near Viola and West Mumma avenues, police said.
During the chase, Anderson pulled out a handgun, and Officer Rose fired at him six times. Rose, a member of the police department for just less than one year, has been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation into the weapons-fired part of the case continues. The leave is department policy.
He was pursuing Anderson along with Officer Kyle Thomas, a five-year veteran who has Special Weapons and Tactics training, police said. Officials said it is unclear whether Anderson fired more than one time, but he had a bullet in the gun's chamber and investigators are looking for more shell casings in the vicinity of the shooting.
While investigators wanted to question Anderson about the missing mother and son, there was no active warrant issued in that case. He did have an active bench warrant from Dayton Municipal Court for failing to appear on misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run, not maintaining reasonable control and driving under suspension, according to court records. He was also wanted in a possible felonious assault.
Anderson had been arrested six times by Dayton police. He was convicted of robbery in 2006 and felonious assault in 2011, according to court records.Officers also arrested 29-year-old Tonisha Harris on March 23 on charges of felony fraud and forgery in a case involving McKnight and Anderson.
Investigators did not reveal how Anderson is connected, only that he was also dating Harris. According to a Dayton police incident report, Harris was arrested stemming from a theft and identity fraud case involving McKnight's Chase Bank account.
Biehl said it's not clear if Harris is connected to McKnight's disappearance, but detectives are questioning her. She is being detained in the Montgomery County Jail.
Harris has been arrested five times by Dayton police and has been convicted of felony forgery and misdemeanor theft, according to court records.
Police said evidence found during the execution of several search warrants highly suggests that McKnight and her son are dead. They did not specify what that evidence was.
When Anderson bailed out of his car following the police pursuit, he was less than a block from the home of McKnight's mother on Homewood Avenue. Police are asking that anyone with information about the case contact them. Biehl said their focus is finding out what happened to McKnight and her son, and locating their remains. Tips can be called in anonymously using the Crime Stoppers hotline at (937) 222-7867.
Tuesday night, Williams said she's left to wonder why anyone would kill her daughter and grandson.
"Let me tell you, this is the worst day of my life," Williams told News Center 7's Layron Livingston. "My baby is missing. And my grandson. I can't tell you what I am feeling right now. He's 4. He's a baby."
McKnight, who had gotten out of the Air Force Reserves a few weeks before her disappearance, "is one of the sweetest people that you'll ever meet. Why would somebody want to hurt my baby?"
Williams said it "freaked me out" to learn her daughter had not reported to either of her jobs since those last days in March. McKnight worked at Ele Specialty Cake Shop and Coffee House Bakery in West Carrollton as well as Soma Intimates at The Greene.
"This is the worst feeling of my life... This is a different pain," she said, noting that she has to remain strong for her other two daughters.
McKnight's Facebook page is filled with photos of Zaden and loving words about her son.
In February, McKnight said she could not wait for Zaden's fifth birthday and was torn between hosting a party with a "Despicable Me" or "Spongebob SquarePants" theme. In an online talent casting profile, McKnight wrote that she loves to draw, read and write poetry, watch movies and ride Go Karts. She said her dream was to become a famous fashion designer and travel the world.
"If anybody saw anything or knows my daughter... I need somebody to call police if you see anything or know anything," Williams said. "At this point, I'm begging."
About the Author