Cop Placed on Leave After Comment About Black Lives Matter Activist's Suicide

Officials say an Ohio police officer is being put on paid leave over a Facebook comment about a Black Lives Matter activist who killed himself on the Statehouse steps.

The comment posted under Fairborn officer Lee Cyr's account reads "Love a happy ending." It was posted on the Ohio Politics Facebook page Wednesday, two days after MarShawn McCarrel II killed himself.

Police say Cyr was off duty when the comment was posted.

City Police Chief Terry Barlow says internal affairs investigators will try to determine if Cyr violated the department's social media policy.

Cyr didn't return calls seeking comment.

McCarrel shot himself near the front door of the Statehouse on Monday. According to the The Columbus Dispatch, a post on his Facebook page hours before the shooting said: "My demons won today. I'm sorry." [[368258481, C]]

Authorities said nobody saw the shooting, but McCarrel, who was not a state employee, was seen on Statehouse grounds just before the gunshot.

McCarrel had helped organize an effort to feed the homeless, worked as a youth mentor and helped with local protests after high-profile police shootings led to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Samaritan's 24-hour crisis hotline is available nationally, (212) 673-3000 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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