On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 6:49 p.m., Cleveland Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a caller advising that her ex-husband had assaulted her and fired a gun at her.
Cleveland police officers were dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, officers began approaching the residence in the 100 block of Hunt Street. During their approach, officers heard two gunshots fired in their vicinity.
The residence was dimly lit, and officers took defensive positions, illuminating the residence with lights from their patrol units. CPD Dispatch reportedly received a phone call from the shooter, who advised officers that they needed to stay clear of his residence. The caller allegedly threatened to shoot officers who were on location.
Several attempts were made to have the suspect exit the residence peacefully but were unsuccessful, as the suspect reportedly repeatedly disconnected from phone negotiations.
CPD officers were able to make contact with the ex-wife, who was at a nearby residence, and ensured she was not inside the home. Officers established a perimeter to contain the suspect and rerouted traffic away from the area. While doing so, two additional shots were fired at officers from an unknown location within the area of the residence.
While maintaining the perimeter, officers took the suspect into custody after he exited the residence with his hands in the air. CPD officers then cleared the residence and found no other people inside. The rifle the suspect reportedly used was located and recovered as evidence. The suspect was transported to the Cleveland Police Department, where he was booked into the CPD Jail.
The suspect was identified as Kevin Earl Underwood, 68, of Cleveland.
Underwood is charged with:
- One count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (second-degree felony)
- Three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant (first-degree felony)
During the encounter, CPD command staff contacted the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office to request activation of the Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team to support CPD officers while the suspect was barricaded. A Precinct 6 constable also arrived to support CPD staff.
“Our officers handled the situation tactically, remained calm under fire, and took the suspect into custody without anyone being seriously injured,” Cleveland Police Capt. Scott Felts said. “As everyone knows, domestic violence situations can go bad quickly, as our officers experienced. We are truly blessed that no one was shot, and our officers were able to go home to their loved ones.”
Felts also thanked assisting agencies.
“We want to thank the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Precinct 6 Constables’ Office for their response. We would also like to thank Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman for reaching out to us upon learning of the shooting and offering her office’s assistance,” Felts said. “We value our collaborative efforts with our area agencies; we can always rely on each other’s assistance when needed.”