Suspect of Lowellville double murder, took his own life during Parma stand-off, police say

PARMA, Ohio (WOIO) - A Girard man suspected of double murder took his life during a Parma stand-off Wednesday night, according to Parma police.

Police told 19 News 38-year-old Jonathan Crago was suspected of shooting a mother and daughter around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night in Lowellville, near the Youngstown area.

One of the victims was identified by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office as 55-year-old Deborah Pratt-Hudak.

Crago was charged with two counts of aggravated murder, with a warrant out for his arrest.

Roughly three hours later, around 9:45 p.m., a shelter-in-place was ordered by the Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System in the area of Pearl and Velma Avenue.

Parma police said Crago took his own life during this stand-off after making a call to Cleveland Police Dispatch and informing them of his intent to commit “suicide by cop.”

The shelter-in-place was lifted around 11:35 p.m.

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