Coroner IDs armed man shot, killed by police during mental health call

DAYTON — The man shot and killed after investigators say he pointed a shotgun at officers who were trying to help him during a mental health call has been identified.

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Taylor Cotton, 26, was identified by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday morning.

As previously reported on News Center 7, Dayton Police were called to the 1200 block of Rosedale Drive on Saturday morning after a woman called 911, claiming her son was going to shoot her if police showed up.

The mother told police that Saturday was day two of her son’s mental health episodes.

“He set the house on fire next door. I knew it was my son. I knew it was,” she told dispatchers.

Shortly after officers arrived on the scene they made contact with Cotton, only identified by police during a press conference Monday as a 26-year-old Black male.

Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation for 30 minutes, according to Dayton Police Maj. Paul Saunders.

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Saunders played body camera audio that showed officers attempting to negotiate with the suspect.

“Please don’t make us do this man. We’re not here for this. No one wants this,” an unidentified officer can be heard saying in the audio.

Saunders said Cotton had previous mental health and criminal history. One Dayton officer on the scene even recognized him and said he had taken him to the hospital before.

Police did not show body camera footage as they said it showed family members and Cotton.

“This is less of a criminal issue and more of a mental health issue. We treat it as such,” Saunders said.

Saunders did play a short video clip that appeared to show Cotton getting out of his car and pointing his gun at officers.

Eight officers were involved in the shooting itself — six from the Dayton Police Department, a deputy from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and a Moraine police officer.

All eight officers involved are on administrative leave and receiving counseling.

Police later learned the gun Cotton had was not loaded.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the criminal investigation of the shooting.

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