Officer Justin A. Leo, aged 31, of Girard, Ohio, tragically passed away on October 21, 2017, following injuries sustained in the line of duty. Born on January 9, 1986, in Youngstown, Ohio, Justin was the son of David and Patricia Leo. He graduated from Girard High School in 2004 and later attended the University of Toledo and Youngstown State University before graduating from the YSU Police Academy in June 2009. Justin worked for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department and the Vienna Police Department before joining the Girard Police Department on July 6, 2012.
On the night of his death, Officer Leo responded to a domestic disturbance call at 408 Indiana Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, he encountered Jason Marble, who was intoxicated and known to have firearms in the home. During the encounter, Marble produced a handgun and shot Officer Leo, who was not wearing a bulletproof vest at the time. Another officer on the scene returned fire, killing Marble. Despite being rushed to St. Elizabeth Hospital, Officer Leo succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Officer Leo's death revealed that Marble was three times over the legal limit for alcohol consumption. The final report indicated that Officer Leo was reaching for his notepad when Marble fired the fatal shots. The incident raised questions about the use of bulletproof vests and the circumstances under which the call was made.
Officer Justin A. Leo is remembered for his dedication to duty and his selfless service to the community. His legacy lives on through the Officer Justin A. Leo Memorial Scholarship in Education, established by his family and friends to honor his commitment to serving others.
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