RITTMAN – A wave of grief washed over a crowd outside the Rittman Police Station on the evening of July 6, nearly 24 hours after a shooting left four dead and four more injured.
A stretch of East Ohio Avenue outside the station was blocked off as hundreds of mourners gathered in the street, holding flickering candles.
Authorities responded at about 9:30 p.m. July 5 to a report of a disturbance and shots fired, where officers immediately were under fire, Wayne County Sheriff Thomas Ballinger and Medina County Sheriff Terry Grice said in a joint statement.
Rittman Police Sgt. Scott Ries, a 10-year veteran of the Rittman Police Department, was killed in the line of duty while responding to the incident on Chippewa Trail.
Christine McWilliams, 43, and her 13-year-old daughter, McKinley McWilliams, were killed by gunshot wounds. The suspect and Christine’s former partner, Brandon Fazekas, 38, died from a gunshot wound consistent with suicide.
Four other law enforcement officers and a K9 from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office also were injured, authorities said.
Vigil attendees wore blue in support of police. Some could be seen sobbing, overridden with grief. Music played as community members walked up to a memorial, placing candles, teddy bears, flowers, flags, balloons and handwritten notes.
Rittman Mayor Charles Rudy Arnold said the gathering was a testimate to “true community,” as so many people showed up to support one another, hugging neighbors. One attendee walked around handing out tissues. Another offered a lighter for candles.
“It’s a sense of pride and hurt at the same time,” Arnold said, speaking of the showing at the vigil. “I hope that people can remember this and we can make sure this wasn’t in vain.”
Remembering Sgt. Scott Ries, Christine and McKinley McWilliams
Before Ries joined the Rittman police department, he served as a deputy sheriff for the Wayne County and an officer for the Sugar Grove Police Department in Fairfield County.
First responders, from Rittman and neighboring municipalities alike, showed up at the vigil in a show of support.
Tanya Stehler, a Rittman resident since 2005, spoke at the vigil, praying with the crowd. Stehler said she grew up with Ries and felt motivated to help lead the vigil in his honor.
Chris Baker, a resident of 30 years, said things like this don’t typically happen in the small town. He said he hopes the community will rally around first responders and Ries’ family.
“I’m hoping we’ll pull together and support our police,” he said.
Mourners spoke highly of Ries and his commitment to the community.
“He stood between violence and the people he swore to protect and he did not step back,” Arnold said in a speech.
Arnold also said he knew Christine personally, having attended school with her as a child.
“I was at her 13th birthday, a kid at a party with her whole life in front of her,” he said. “Last night, her own daughter McKinley was 13 years old. A girl neighborhood kids played with. A girl who should have had her whole life in front of her too.”
Includes reporting by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Rittman mourns police officer and victims of fatal shooting at vigil
Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository
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By Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
