A shooting that wounded three officers in Lorain, Ohio on July 23 appears to have been “a targeted attack on law enforcement,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.
“Fran and I are praying for the three Lorain Police Department officers who were shot in the line of duty today, and our thoughts are also with their families, friends, and fellow officers in northeast Ohio,” DeWine said. “This situation reminds us that those who work in law enforcement risk their lives every day for the safety of their communities. We are so very grateful for the men and women who willingly and bravely serve and protect.”
The armed man laid in wait for officers at a dead-end street in Lorain, the Associated Press reported. Two officers were parking their patrol vehicles in an undeveloped industrial park to eat lunch.
Another officer who drove to the scene to aid the officers was also injured, the AP reported.
Lorain is located about 33 miles west of Cleveland on the shore of Lake Erie.
The New York Times reported that two of the officers were shot several times and airlifted to a trauma center in Cleveland in critical condition. The other officer was being treated for a gunshot wound to the hand.
Michael Failing, the acting police chief in Lorain, told reporters the shooter was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.
The nearby Elyria Police Department is investigating the shooting, according to the New York Times.
Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel also said he and his wife were “heartbroken to learn about the … attack.”
“Our prayers are with the officers, their families, and the entire Lorain community,” Tressel said in a statement. “When our law enforcement officers leave for work, they never know what challenges await them. We are grateful for what they do to protect us. We condemn this heinous act of violence.”
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio shooting appears to have been ‘targeted attack’ on police officers, DeWine says
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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