3 Lorain Police Officers Shot in Suspected Ambush
Lorain, Ohio– In a tragic ambush on Wednesday afternoon, three Lorain Police Department officers were shot, with two suffering serious injuries. Authorities confirm the officers were targeted in a planned attack involving high-powered weaponry.
According to officials, the suspect—described as a 28-year-old male—was lying in wait near River Bend Drive, an isolated area that dead-ends off Colorado Avenue. Officers Phillip Wagner and Peter Gale were having lunch in their patrol vehicles when the gunman opened fire.
The suspect reportedly had an “arsenal of weapons” and used a high-powered rifle to initiate the assault. Officer Wagner and Officer Brent Payne were critically injured and were airlifted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Officer Gale sustained a hand injury and was treated at Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital.
Police returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. It remains unclear if he was killed by law enforcement or took his own life. Authorities executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home on Lakeview Boulevard shortly after the incident.
Due to the scope of the attack, the Elyria Police Department is leading the investigation, with support from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Multiple agencies, including the Elyria Fire Department, Avon Police, and Cleveland Police, provided critical assistance during the emergency response.
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley expressed gratitude for the rapid support from state and federal leaders, including Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Jon Husted. “It is a tragic day for Lorain, but we are a strong city and we will move forward,” he said.
Governor DeWine described the incident as a “targeted attack on law enforcement,” adding that it underscores the risks officers face daily.
Lorain city offices will remain closed Thursday and Friday to allow the community and department to recover.
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