Incident
Officer Jason West was shot and killed at a disturbance.
Officer West responded to a disturbance call on Altamont Avenue, near South Taylor Road. A fight over a woman had broken out at a large party at the location. Police dispatchers assigned three cruisers to the disturbance. Officer West pulled down Altamont Avenue going east, followed by another cruiser.
A third cruiser pulled down Altamont Avenue, traveling west. The suspect was in a car parked on Altamont, facing westbound. As Officer West approached in his cruiser, the suspect backed his car into the driveway. Officer West pulled his cruiser in front of the car, blocking it. When Officer West stepped out of his cruiser, the suspect opened fire at him from inside the parked car. The suspect then exited the car and continued to shoot Officer West at close range, striking him in the leg and face.
The suspect fled north to Beechwood Avenue and ditched his gun in a neighboring driveway before breaking into a woman's house. The woman fled the house and was not harmed. Officers found the suspect hiding on the second floor and took him into custody.
Officer West was transported to Huron Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Four years prior to this incident, the suspect had told his family that he wanted to kill a police officer. He then went out and threw a brick at a police cruiser and assaulted an officer. He was later convicted of that crime and sentenced to probation.
The 27-year-old suspect plead guilty to Aggravated Murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Officer West.
Officer West had served with the Cleveland Heights Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-BF679F40- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer West gave the Cleveland Heights Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer West.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Jason West is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Heights Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jason West's cause is highlighted.
How Jason West Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jason West is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jason West was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Cleveland Heights Police Department are honored on badge.nw.


