One of three Ohio police officers shot by a heavily armed suspect investigator say was “laying in wait” with an “arsenal of weapons” has died.
Phillip Wagner, 35, died from his wounds on Wednesday, the Lorain Police Department said, according to WOIO.
Wagner, 35, and Peter Gale, 51, had parked their patrol cars to eat lunch on a dead end road in an industrial area just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday when the shooter opened fire, WJW reported. The officers called for help, and one of the responding officers, 47-year-old Brent Payne, was also shot.
Payne and Wagner were flown to a trauma center in critical condition while Gale was shot in the hand and treated at a local facility, according to WOIO.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Michael Parker, was shot and killed in the subsequent melee, although it’s not yet known if he was killed by police bullets or died by suicide.
Elyria Police are heading the investigation. Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said the suspect “ambushed” the officers with a high-powered rifle, WJW said. Investigators don’t believe anyone else was involved.
Lorain County Sheriff’s Office Major A.J. Torres said that explosives were found in the suspect’s car, which were detonated by the bomb squad. Other “suspicious items” were found at the suspect’s home.
Investigators have not speculated on a motive for the shooting or how the suspect knew the officers would be taking their lunch to that particular location at that time in order to “ambush” them.
Lorain’s former police chief, James McCann, announced his retirement — effective September 15 — last month following an investigation into comments he made to a detective in which he said he wished the detective was “a dirty cop” because “I need someone taken care of,” The Chronicle reported. McCann is on administrative duties until his retirement. There is no indication that his situation was connected to the shooting.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Peter Gale, Phillip Wagner, and Brent Payne/Lorain Police Department]