A terrifying moment between Cincinnati police officers and a suspected murderer was caught on tape, with one officer putting his training to use to prevent the suspect from stealing his weapon during an altercation. Thomas Robinson is seen in interrogation footage attempting to steal an officer's gun and reportedly injuring him, WCPO reports.
Robinson was arrested Tuesday and charged with the murder of 17-year-old Joseph Reno Armstrong Jr., who was found dead in an apartment from gunshot wounds. Another person, described only as "a man in his early 20s," also sustained minor injuries during the shooting.
As officers tried to exchange the cuffs on Robinson's wrists inside the interrogation room, he grabbed for the weapon and "struck the officer in the face" while trying to wrestle it out of his grip. Officers used a stun gun while attempting to subdue Robinson, who is heard screaming "Kill me!" multiple times in the video.
"I think the officers acted very decisively [and] responded exactly how they were trained to and maintained their weapon retention," Lt. Steve Saunders said of how his officers handled the encounter, adding that Robinson went from "compliant" to swiping the gun in just a "split second."
Robinson, who was found with a 9mm handgun and heroin in his possession upon arrest, was hit with additional charges following the interrogation room incident. Robinson is now charged with murder, aggravated robbery, assault, drug possession, and possessing weapons while under disability. He is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center with a $1.5 million bond.
