One of the three Lorain, Ohio, police officers who were shot Wednesday in what authorities described as an ambush has died, police said Thursday.
Officer Phillip C. Wagner was eating pizza for lunch in his parked patrol car with another patrol car next to him around 1:05 p.m. when a gunman, who was also parked nearby, opened fire on them, according to Lorain police.
Wagner, 35, was shot several times and died Thursday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, police said.
Two additional officers were injured. The officer who was parked next to Wagner was shot in the hand, and another officer who drove to assist after the gunfire was shot several times, according to police.
The gunman was killed by officers during an exchange of gunfire, according to the police department in the neighboring city of Elyria, which is conducting the investigation.
On Thursday, Elyria police identified the suspect as Michael Parker, 28, of Lorain. The investigation is being conducted by the police department of Elyria, a neighboring city, due to an officer-involved shooting.
Wagner served in the Marine Corps and was with the Lorain Police Department for seven years, Lorain police said.
“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” said acting Police Chief Michael Failing in a statement.
In and around Parker’s vehicle, police discovered “multiple high-powered rifles, handguns, and a substantial quantity of loaded magazines,” Elyria police said in a statement Thursday.
There was also “a significant quantity of improvised explosive materials within the vehicle,” according to Elyria police.
The motive is still being investigated, the department stated. Lorain police described the shooting as an ambush.
Governor Mike DeWine ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Wagner.
