Authorities have identified the Rittman police officer who was killed in the line of duty during a deadly shooting Sunday night that also left four other law enforcement officers and a police K-9 wounded.
According to a joint statement released Monday by Rittman Police Chief Robert Shows, Wayne County Sheriff Thomas Ballinger and Medina County Sheriff Terry Grice, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5, to a 911 call reporting a break-in and shots fired at a home in the 90 block of Chippewa Trail in Rittman.
Officials said officers came under immediate gunfire upon arriving at the scene.
Rittman Police Sgt. Scott Ries was killed during the incident. Ries served the Rittman Police Department for 10 years and previously worked as a deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and as an officer with the Sugar Grove Police Department in Fairfield County.
“It is with profound sadness that the Rittman Police Department and the City of Rittman announce the tragic loss of Sgt. Scott Ries, who was killed in the line of duty responding to a disturbance call,” the department said in a separate statement.
“Sgt. Ries served the Rittman Police Department with honor and courage. Throughout his service, Sgt. Ries demonstrated an enduring commitment to protecting others and upholding the values of our department.”
Authorities said the suspected gunman, identified as a Wayne County man, also died during the incident.
The two other people killed were identified as a mother and her 13-year-old daughter, a student at Norwayne Local Schools. Their identities have not yet been released publicly.
Four additional responding officers, all with the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, were struck by gunfire. Two deputies were transported to a local hospital for treatment and are listed in stable condition. The other two deputies were treated at the scene.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Vick was also struck by gunfire and remains in serious condition.
The shooting claimed four lives in total: Sgt. Ries, the suspected gunman, the mother and her 13-year-old daughter.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been requested to investigate the officer-involved critical incident. Officials said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
“Our hearts are broken with this unimaginable loss,” the Rittman Police Department said. “The incident remains under active investigation with BCI. We are grateful for the outpouring support from our community and law enforcement partners.”
Authorities have not released additional information about what led to the shooting or the events that unfolded before officers came under fire. The investigation remains ongoing.
Jordan Miller News will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
