Latest news with #ambush
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Police officer's death in Lorain, Ohio, marks latest in growing trend of ambush attacks on law enforcement
A police officer who was killed in a Cleveland suburb this week is the latest law enforcement officer to be shot in an ambush, a type of attack on the rise across the country. Officers Phillip Wagner and Peter Gale had just picked up pizza for lunch and were parked side by side along a dead-end road in Lorain, Ohio on Wednesday, when, according to police, a shooter was lying in wait. Wagner, a Marine Corps veteran, was struck multiple times. The 35-year-old later died. Gale, 51, was hit in the hand. Another officer, 47-year-old Brent Payne, responded to the shooting and was critically wounded. Investigators said the shooter, 28-year-old Michael Parker, was killed during the exchange of gunfire. Wednesday's attack is the latest in a growing trend of ambush attacks against police officers across the country this year. Data analyzed by the CBS News Crime Unit shows at least 50 law enforcement officers have been shot in ambush attacks so far this year — on track to exceed the 2024 total of 80. The numbers significantly spiked in 2023, when 138 officers were ambushed. The overall number of officers shot in the line of duty in any type of attack or incident has been growing too: 342 last year. That's up 40% from 2018, according to a CBS News analysis of data collected by the Fraternal Order of Police. Asked if there's a pattern among the attackers, Steven Fioritto, a trustee of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, said, "A lot of times they describe the person as a loner, but not every loner is going to do that." The FBI has been studying the rising trend of officers shot in the line of duty. For ambush-style attacks, they're interviewing both shooters and victims. Their findings are part of a training CBS News attended in West Virginia for local law enforcement. "They always have to have their head on a swivel," FBI trainer Kevin Harris said. "They've always got to have that situational awareness, and the unfortunate thing about law enforcement is they're truly never off duty."Anna Schecter, Nicole Sganga and Cara Tabachnick contributed to this report.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Authorities identify Ohio man who died in shooting after he wounded 3 police officers
This aerial image taken from video provided by WEWS shows police working at the scene of shooting after police officers were wounded and a man was killed in an exchange of gunfire early Wednesday afternoon, July 23, 2025, in an industrial area of Lorain, Ohio. (WEWS via AP) LORAIN, Ohio — The shooter of three Ohio police officers in an ambush attack was identified Thursday by the Lorain County Coroner's Office as 28-year-old Michael Parker. The coroner's office said an autopsy is planned for Parker, who died as a result of the shooting in Lorain on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say they believe Parker acted alone when he used a high-powered rifle to shoot and wound three city officers — Phillip Wagner, 35; Peter Gale, 51; and Brent Payne, 47. Parker's home was searched for more than five hours Wednesday night. A neighbor said officers broke an upstairs window and flew in a drone during the search. Just before the ambush, Wagner and Gale had parked to eat pizza on a dead-end street in an undeveloped industrial area in Lorain, a city west of Cleveland on Lake Erie. Payne was shot after responding to their call for help, acting Police Chief Michael Failing said. Two of the officers suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were in critical condition after being flown to a trauma center, according to a statement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. The other officer was shot in the hand, Failing said. It was not immediately clear whether Parker was killed by return fire or killed himself, police said. Failing said Parker was found to have had 'an arsenal' of weapons with him. Parker lived with his parents in a tidy, two-story brick home along the lake. Neighbors said Thursday they often saw him walking the family dog to the nearby beach, but he rarely engaged in conversation, and never saw him with friends. 'He was just an odd character,' said Jody Burnsworth, who has lived next door to the family since 2012. 'He wasn't rude. He was just always quiet. When he walked he looked like he was always ultra-focused on something.' She said she always had an uneasy feeling about him, never opening her bedroom drapes on the side of the house that faced his home. 'I hate that I thought that,' she said. 'He kind of gave me the creeps. Sometimes he would just look at you in an odd way.' Burnsworth said that during the past year he was hired at the post office but soon quit because the work was too difficult. During the search, a tactical vehicle pulled up outside the house and officers broke out an upstairs window before flying a drone inside, Burnsworth said. Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. John Seewer And Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Authorities identify Ohio man who died in shooting after he wounded 3 police officers
The shooter of three Ohio police officers in an ambush attack was identified Thursday by the Lorain County Coroner's Office as 28-year-old Michael Parker. The coroner's office said an autopsy is planned for Parker, who died as a result of the shooting in Lorain on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say they believe Parker acted alone when he used a high-powered rifle to shoot and wound three city officers — Phillip Wagner, 35; Peter Gale, 51; and Brent Payne, 47. Parker's home was searched for more than five hours Wednesday night. A neighbor said officers broke an upstairs window and flew in a drone during the search. Just before the ambush, Wagner and Gale had parked to eat pizza on a dead-end street in an undeveloped industrial area in Lorain, a city west of Cleveland on Lake Erie. Payne was shot after responding to their call for help, acting Police Chief Michael Failing said. Two of the officers suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were in critical condition after being flown to a trauma center, according to a statement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. The other officer was shot in the hand, Failing said. It was not immediately clear whether Parker was killed by return fire or killed himself, police said. Failing said Parker was found to have had 'an arsenal' of weapons with him. Parker lived with his parents in a tidy, two-story brick home along the lake. Neighbors said Thursday they often saw him walking the family dog to the nearby beach, but he rarely engaged in conversation, and never saw him with friends. 'He was just an odd character,' said Jody Burnsworth, who has lived next door to the family since 2012. 'He wasn't rude. He was just always quiet. When he walked he looked like he was always ultra-focused on something." She said she always had an uneasy feeling about him, never opening her bedroom drapes on the side of the house that faced his home. 'I hate that I thought that,' she said. 'He kind of gave me the creeps. Sometimes he would just look at you in an odd way.' Burnsworth said that during the past year he was hired at the post office but soon quit because the work was too difficult. During the search, a tactical vehicle pulled up outside the house and officers broke out an upstairs window before flying a drone inside, Burnsworth said. ___
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Authorities identify Ohio man who died in shooting after he wounded 3 police officers
LORAIN, Ohio (AP) — The shooter of three Ohio police officers in an ambush attack was identified Thursday by the Lorain County Coroner's Office as 28-year-old Michael Parker. The coroner's office said an autopsy is planned for Parker, who died as a result of the shooting in Lorain on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say they believe Parker acted alone when he used a high-powered rifle to shoot and wound three city officers — Phillip Wagner, 35; Peter Gale, 51; and Brent Payne, 47. Parker's home was searched for more than five hours Wednesday night. A neighbor said officers broke an upstairs window and flew in a drone during the search. Just before the ambush, Wagner and Gale had parked to eat pizza on a dead-end street in an undeveloped industrial area in Lorain, a city west of Cleveland on Lake Erie. Payne was shot after responding to their call for help, acting Police Chief Michael Failing said. Two of the officers suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were in critical condition after being flown to a trauma center, according to a statement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. The other officer was shot in the hand, Failing said. It was not immediately clear whether Parker was killed by return fire or killed himself, police said. Failing said Parker was found to have had 'an arsenal' of weapons with him. Parker lived with his parents in a tidy, two-story brick home along the lake. Neighbors said Thursday they often saw him walking the family dog to the nearby beach, but he rarely engaged in conversation, and never saw him with friends. 'He was just an odd character,' said Jody Burnsworth, who has lived next door to the family since 2012. 'He wasn't rude. He was just always quiet. When he walked he looked like he was always ultra-focused on something.' She said she always had an uneasy feeling about him, never opening her bedroom drapes on the side of the house that faced his home. 'I hate that I thought that,' she said. 'He kind of gave me the creeps. Sometimes he would just look at you in an odd way.' Burnsworth said that during the past year he was hired at the post office but soon quit because the work was too difficult. During the search, a tactical vehicle pulled up outside the house and officers broke out an upstairs window before flying a drone inside, Burnsworth said. ___ Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
Authorities identify Ohio man who died in shooting after he wounded 3 police officers
LORAIN, Ohio — The shooter of three Ohio police officers in an ambush attack was identified Thursday by the Lorain County Coroner's Office as 28-year-old Michael Parker. The coroner's office said an autopsy is planned for Parker, who died as a result of the shooting in Lorain on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say they believe Parker acted alone when he used a high-powered rifle to shoot and wound three city officers — Phillip Wagner, 35; Peter Gale, 51; and Brent Payne, 47. Parker's home was searched for more than five hours Wednesday night. A neighbor said officers broke an upstairs window and flew in a drone during the search. Just before the ambush, Wagner and Gale had parked to eat pizza on a dead-end street in an undeveloped industrial area in Lorain, a city west of Cleveland on Lake Erie. Payne was shot after responding to their call for help, acting Police Chief Michael Failing said. Two of the officers suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were in critical condition after being flown to a trauma center, according to a statement issued by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. The other officer was shot in the hand, Failing said. It was not immediately clear whether Parker was killed by return fire or killed himself, police said. Failing said Parker was found to have had 'an arsenal' of weapons with him. Parker lived with his parents in a tidy, two-story brick home along the lake. Neighbors said Thursday they often saw him walking the family dog to the nearby beach, but he rarely engaged in conversation, and never saw him with friends. 'He was just an odd character,' said Jody Burnsworth, who has lived next door to the family since 2012. 'He wasn't rude. He was just always quiet. When he walked he looked like he was always ultra-focused on something.' She said she always had an uneasy feeling about him, never opening her bedroom drapes on the side of the house that faced his home. 'I hate that I thought that,' she said. 'He kind of gave me the creeps. Sometimes he would just look at you in an odd way.' Burnsworth said that during the past year he was hired at the post office but soon quit because the work was too difficult. During the search, a tactical vehicle pulled up outside the house and officers broke out an upstairs window before flying a drone inside, Burnsworth said. ___ Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
