12-year-old, officer die in altercation: ; Youth drags officer in car before being shot by police

CINCINNATI - A city police officer attempting to stop a cardriven by a 12-year-old boy was dragged about 800 feet to his deathearly today as he tried to snatch the keys out of the ignition,police said. The boy was shot to death by the officer. The officerdied "because some young punk was driving a car. It's unbelievable,"said Keith Fangman, president of Queen City Lodge No. 69 of theFraternal Order of Police.

Witnesses told police that officer Kevin C. Crayon, 40, reachedinto the car driven by Courtney Mathis, 12, of Cincinnati, afterMathis refused to show the officer a driver's license at abut 12:45a.m., Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. told reporters. Witnessestold police that Mathis began backing the car erratically in aconvenience store parking lot toward several small children.

"I'd like to think the officer was trying to save the childrenfrom serious injury or death," Streicher told reporters."Unfortunately, as the result of his own actions trying to savesomeone's life, he sacrificed his own life."

Mathis drove off zigzagging down the street as Crayon pulled outhis service weapon while being dragged, witnesses said.

"Officer Crayon fired one round, striking Courtney Mathis in thechest area," the chief said.

Despite having been shot, Mathis continued driving and struckanother car before he drove home and told family members he had beenshot by police, Streicher said. Family members called 911.

The maroon Ford Taurus that Mathis drove belonged to a familymember who had been unaware Mathis was out driving, police weretold. Mathis was alone in the car, police said.

Across the street from police headquarters, flags at a memorialfor slain police officers flew at half staff today.

Police believe that Crayon died of head injuries suffered when hefell from the moving car, police said.

Mathis died about four hours later after undergoing emergencysurgery at Children's Hospital Medical Center, police said.

Police said Mathis would have faced several misdemeanor chargeshad he not tried to flee.

"For that to deteriorate into the deaths of two individuals isvery troublesome for us, very hard for us to accept," Streicher saidat a news conference today.