In a horribly sad story out of Ohio, an officer with the Elryia Police Department in Lorain, Ohio, was slain by a suspect who ambushed officers with a high-powered rifle, sparking a gun battle that led to the death of one officer and the suspect. The officer slain was 35-year-old Phillip Wagner; he died in the hospital on Thursday, July 24.
Describing the tragedy in a press release, the Elyria Police Department noted, “The Elyria Police Department is leading an ongoing investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in the City of Lorain on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The incident began at approximately 1:04 PM, when Lorain Police Department officers responded to a radio broadcast of shots fired by an on-duty officer in the area of River Bend Drive.”
Continuing, the statement identified the suspect and briefly described the gun battle, noting that three other officers and their vehicles were hit by the suspect’s rifle fire. It provided, “As additional Lorain Police Officers arrived on scene, they were met with significant gunfire from a suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Michael Parker of Lorain, Ohio. Officers returned fire during the exchange, which ultimately resulted in Parker sustaining a fatal injury. Three Lorain Police officers were also struck by gunfire, along with their patrol vehicles. The injured officers were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.”
Further, the statement noted that the officers had to call in support from nearby agencies that could provide aid, with numerous other officers and tactical teams arriving to first secure and then do a coordinated search of the area to try and figure out what happened and if there was an ongoing threat to the public.
The preliminary findings of the investigative unit were that Parker had brought an arsenal of high-powered rifles with loaded magazines for them, along with multiple handguns, to the scene. He then used them during the gun battle, in which he was slain. The investigative unit also found improvised explosive devices in his vehicle, which were later destroyed in a controlled detonation.
The police also later searched Parker’s residence, where they did not find explosives or other threats to public safety. Nor did they find, or so it currently seems, what motive he had for engaging in the awful ambush and shooting, with the senselessness of it all adding to the tragedy.
Speaking about the incident in a statement, Elryia Police Department Chief James Welsh said, “This incident has deeply impacted all of us in law enforcement. Our hearts are with the officers who were injured, their families, and the entire Lorain Police Department during this incredibly difficult time. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the agencies that responded swiftly and selflessly during this critical incident.”
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Continuing, Chief Welsh added, “The coordinated efforts of our regional law enforcement partners-including tactical teams, bomb technicians, patrol units, and investigators-were instrumental in ensuring public safety, securing the scene, and advancing this complex investigation. In moments of crisis, it’s the strength of our partnerships that carries us through.”
Featured image credit: Officer Down Memorial Page on Facebook