A man was shot dead Wednesday after threatening the Athens County Sheriff’s Office’s deputies in an attempt to get the man to peacefully leave his home.
Chad E. Nicolia, 41, of Hockingport, was pronounced dead at the scene after threatening deputies and his wife with gunshots.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report at about 7:30 p.m. of a domestic dispute between a husband and wife in Hockingport, which is just over 25 miles away from Athens.
Deputies met with Nicolia’s wife and accompanied her to the location of Nicolia at Jetstar Drive, according to a media release from the Sheriff’s office.
The wife and deputies entered the house to get her property back, but Nicolia pointed a gun toward his wife and the deputies. The deputies then quickly removed the woman from the house, according to the media release.
The Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was called to the scene at about 9 p.m. and “negotiation specialists” talked with Nicolia for hours, attempting to get him to peacefully exit the house.
Gas was deployed inside the house in an attempt to get Nicolia to leave.
The suspect fired multiple gunshots at officers and surrounding houses. Deputies then returned fire and killed Nicolia.
There is no further information available, according to the news release.
