One of the three Lorain police officers shot in an ambush Wednesday has died, the police department announced Thursday.
Officer Phillip Wagner, 35, died at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from the department. Wagner joined the force in 2022.
The suspected gunman has been identified as 28-year-old Michael Parker, whose last known address was in Lorain, according to the Lorain County Coroner’s Office. Authorities say Parker ambushed the officers during a shooting Wednesday afternoon.
“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” said Acting Police Chief Michael Failing. “Our department mourns the loss of a true hero and stands in unwavering support of Officer Wagner’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this heartbreaking time.”
Failing also expressed the department’s gratitude for the outpouring of community support and asked residents to keep Wagner’s family in their prayers.
The two other officers injured in the attack remain hospitalized.
