Three Lorain, Ohio, police officers were shot Wednesday afternoon — two were life-flighted to a Level 1 trauma center and one was taken to a local hospital, according to officials. The suspected gunman, a 28-year-old man, has died.
Ambush during routine patrol
Elyria Police Chief James Welsh spoke to reporters and said the Lorain police officers were on patrol at Missouri Avenue and Colorado Avenue in Lorain just after 1 p.m. local time. During their patrol, the officers encountered a 28-year-old man standing outside his vehicle.
The suspect ambushed the police officers with a rifle, leading to a shootout between the officers and the gunman.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
“They encountered a man at a dead end, and they exchanged gunfire with the man,” Chief Welsh said. “And three of the officers were injured during the gunfire, and the suspect was [dead on arrival].”
The suspect died during the exchange. However, it’s unclear if he was shot and killed by police or died by suicide.
Officers’ identities not yet released
The injured officers have not yet been publicly identified as investigators work to notify their families.
“I just want to extend my condolences to the officers’ families,” Chief Welsh said. “Anytime law enforcement is injured, it’s a difficult day for the law enforcement community, and we’re gonna do everything we can to support Lorain police and conduct a thorough and successful investigation to determine exactly what happened.”
Investigation underway
The Elyria Police Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will handle the investigation, according to Welsh.
Police believe the 28-year-old suspect, who has yet to be named, acted alone, and there’s no current danger or threat to the community.
The two officers who were life-flighted remain in critical condition.
Another ambush
News of first responders in Ohio being ambushed comes nearly a month after Idaho firefighters responding to a wildfire were ambushed by sniper fire, which caused two deaths. Authorities eventually found the suspect dead after an hours-long manhunt.
