Brendan Hester, 23, of Ashtabula, Ohio, is in critical condition after being shot twice by a police officer last Friday.  

During the early hours of June 2, Hester — who lives with his brother, his brother’s girlfriend, and their child — pulled a gun on someone who had broken into their home. While Hester held the man at gunpoint, his brother’s girlfriend phoned the police. 

When police arrived on the scene, Hester was shot twice by an unidentified Ashtabula officer. Although authorities claim they ordered Hester to drop the weapon, the family says that never occurred.

“Police have reported that they ordered Brendan to drop the gun, however, this is not true,” Jacqueline Green, the Hester family’s attorney, told The Root. “They didn’t order him to drop the gun. Brendan was shot immediately upon the police entrance into the home, and there was no scuffle going on at the time the police entered that house.”

As this case is investigated, Ashtabula police have not communicated with the Hester family.

“Notably, Ashtabula police have not made any statements to suggest that Brendan posed any threat to them or anyone else at the time he was shot,” Green told Cleveland Scene.

The officer who shot Hester is currently on paid administrative leave.

Hester remains in the MetroHealth ICU  and his cousin Alex Spangler told reporters the family is extremely saddened by this ordeal.

"Brendan is not a criminal, he did not deserve to be shot," he told Cleveland Scene. "Brendan is a victim, and his life matters. ... We are devastated, but we are committed to seeing the police department held accountable for their actions. We deserve an apology. We deserve a full and thorough investigation by BCI."

Spangler said Thursday afternoon that Hester's health had taken a turn for the worse, yet he did not give any further details.