Coroner identifies man shot and killed by Middletown police on Christmas Eve

Dec. 26—A 50-year-old man has been identified as the person shot and killed by a Middletown police officer on Christmas Eve when officers responded to a reported fight.

Christopher Gorak, of Middletown, died of multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death is listed as “pending investigation,” according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting at the apartment complex off of University Boulevard at the request of the division of police, but little information had been released.

Multiple officers were dispatched about 7:04 p.m. Tuesday to the 1000 block of Park Lane in the Olde Towne Apartments for a report of a fight. Officers knocked on the reported apartment’s door and identified themselves as officers when Gorak allegedly opened the door and displayed a gun. In response, one officer shot the suspect, according to police.

Dan Hils, president of Frontline Advisors who represents the Middletown police FOP, said he believes multiple shots were fired by one officer. He also said the 911 call about the fight came from a neighboring apartment.

“My belief is four officers were there. One officer knocked on the door and at least three times identified himself as a Middletown police officer,” Hils said.

Requests for the 911 call, body camera footage and initial reports had not been received Thursday afternoon.

Steve Irwin, spokesman for BCI, said the investigation could take several weeks.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said BCI was called to investigate right away and his office contacted. As is his policy, the investigation result will get grand jury consideration.

“I will go to the grand jury, regardless of how apparently justifiable the shooting incident is, because that is my policy,” Gmoser said.

Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson said the department is not releasing any information on the officers involved, but only one officer is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the BCI investigation that is standard department policy.

“We want to stay impartial. This is a BCI investigation. We have not been briefed on exactly what occurred. We are waiting like everyone else,” Nelson said.

Sgt. Dennis Jordan, president of Middletown Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, said “our officers are lucky not to have been shot. We are thankful they are okay. Condolences go out to everyone involved. It was an unfortunate event that happened. But (it) happened and we are praying for all the individuals involved.”

This is the third police-involved shooting in Middletown since February 2023.

In April 2023, Middletown police responded to the same apartment complex when they were shot at by a suspect. They returned fire and hit the suspect, wounding the man. Kyle Kellum recovered, was indicted for felonious assault involving a police officer, but found to be not guilty by reason of insanity following a bench trial in common pleas court.

In February 2023, Middletown police shot and killed a man who pointed a weapon at them in the parking lot of the Walmart on Towne Boulevard.

No charges were filed against the two Middletown officers in the deadly shooting.

The officers’ use of deadly force in the Feb. 25 shooting of 47-year-old Victor Lykins was deemed reasonable by the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor David Fornshell announced after reviewing investigation results.

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