LORAIN, Ohio () Three Lorain Police officers were shot and a suspect was killed Wednesday afternoon in what authorities called an “ambush.”
affiliate WJW in Cleveland reports two officers 35-year-old Phillip Wagner and 51-year-old Peter Gale were seriously injured and flown to a level one trauma center in Cleveland. Brent Payne, 47, was taken to a local hospital after being struck in the hand while trying to help.
Wagner and Gale were parked side-by-side, having lunch before shots were fired.
“This is a difficult day for the Lorain Police Department and the law enforcement community,” said. Elyria Police Chief James Welsh.
“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.”
Welsh told reporters a suspect ambushed the officers with a high-powered rifle. Officers returned fire, and the suspect died during the exchange, he said. It’s unclear whether the suspect died by suicide or was killed by officers, he said.
At least one local school was placed on lockdown.
U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, called the incident a “tragic day in the city of Lorain.”
“We’re going to move forward, he said. “We welcome all your prayers and all your support for the police officers and the citizens of Lorain.”
The incident marked the city’s first major police shooting in 70 years, Lorain’s acting Police Chief Michael Failing said.
