() Officials have identified the man behind an ambush shooting that hospitalized three Lorain, Ohio, police officers Wednesday.
local affiliate WJW in Cleveland reports the deceased suspect is 28-year-old Michael Parker, according to the Lorain County coroner.
Parker’s last-known address was in Lorain. He’s accused of ambushing and shooting two police officers 35-year-old Phillip Wagner and 51-year-old Peter Gale while they were parked side-by-side eating lunch.
Wagner and Gale were seriously injured and flown to a trauma center in Cleveland.
Another officer, 47-year-old Brent Payne, was struck in the hand while trying to help. All three remain hospitalized.
Parker died during an exchange of gunfire, though it is not yet confirmed whether a responding officer killed him or he died by suicide.
“This is a difficult day for the Lorain Police Department and the law enforcement community,” said Elyria Police Chief James Welsh on Wednesday.
“We pray for the officers’ families. I want to extend my prayers and condolences to the Lorain Police Department and all the law enforcement officers that responded here today to assist in this investigation.”
The incident marked the city’s first major police shooting in 70 years, Lorain’s acting police Chief Michael Failing said.
‘s Sean Noone and local affiliate WJW contributed to this report.
