Victims, suspect identified from deadly standoff in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A 51-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were found dead following a SWAT standoff on the city’s East side Wednesday.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victims as Ritchie Welch, 51, and Regina Young-Fellows, 65.

The incident began around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the city’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Cleveland police said the suspect, Norris Richardson, 57, called 911 and said he had critically injured two people and was threatening suicide.

Officers and the SWAT team quickly responded to the home in the 3600 block of E. 154th Street, near Hampstead Avenue.

Cleveland Deputy Police Chief Ali Pillow said SWAT officers entered the home and found the victims, but the suspect refused to surrender.

The standoff lasted until Wednesday morning, when Richardson took his own life around 10:30 a.m., said Deputy Chief Pillow.

No police officers were injured.

At this time, police have not released the relationship between the suspect and victims.