LORAIN, Ohio — A tragic ambush shooting in Lorain left three police officers wounded and the suspect dead on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, marking the city’s first major police shooting in 70 years. The incident, described as a targeted attack on law enforcement, has shaken the community and prompted an outpouring of support from local and state leaders.

The shooting occurred just after 1 p.m. at the dead end of Missouri Avenue, near the Colorado Avenue Industrial Park in Lorain. According to Acting Lorain Police Chief Michael Failing, officers Phillip Wagner, 35, and Peter Gale, 51, were parked side by side in their patrol vehicles, eating lunch after picking up a pizza, when a 28-year-old suspect, armed with a high-powered rifle and an “arsenal of weapons,” opened fire. The suspect, who was also parked at the dead end, was described as “lying in wait” in what authorities have called a deliberate and planned ambush. A third officer, Brent Payne, 47, responding to the call for help, was also shot multiple times upon arriving at the scene.

Officers Wagner and Payne, both seriously injured with multiple gunshot wounds, were airlifted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, a Level I Trauma Center, where they remain in critical condition. Officer Gale, wounded in the hand, was treated at Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital and is expected to recover. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, though it remains unclear whether he died from self-inflicted wounds or police gunfire. The Lorain County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Following the shooting, Lorain police executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home on North Lakeview Boulevard, where suspicious items were found and removed. Authorities declared the scene safe on Wednesday evening. The Elyria Police Department, with support from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cleveland FBI, is leading the investigation due to the officer-involved nature of the shooting. Drones, helicopters, and police boats were deployed to secure the area, which includes a nearby forest and river, to confirm the suspect acted alone. No motive has been disclosed as the investigation remains ongoing.

Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley addressed the incident during a press conference at MetroHealth Medical Center, calling it “a tragic day in the city of Lorain.” He praised the Lorain Police Department, stating, “We love our Lorain police officers. I consider them the best police officers in the state of Ohio, and we have support not only in the city of Lorain but also the state of Ohio.” Bradley confirmed that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called to offer his “100% support” and any necessary assistance, while U.S. Senator Jon Husted’s office also pledged help. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno and other officials, including Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, issued statements condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with the Lorain Police Department.

Jay McDonald, president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, spoke at the press conference, calling for unity in condemning violence against law enforcement. “Every day, these heroes come to work to protect and serve their communities, knowing this violence continues to reign down on the men and women who swore an oath to protect people they don’t even know,” he said. McDonald noted that 166 Ohio police officers were shot in the first six months of 2025, underscoring the growing dangers faced by law enforcement.

The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio announced that donations to support the injured officers and their families can be made to the Lorain Police Officers Charitable Foundation at 100 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052, or through the FOP of Ohio Foundation website until September 1, 2025. Lorain city offices will remain closed on Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25, in support of the police department, and counseling services will be provided to officers to help process the trauma.

The community has rallied around the Lorain Police Department, with neighboring agencies, including Elyria, Oberlin, Vermilion, Avon Lake, and the Cleveland Division of Police, assisting in the response and investigation. “This is a difficult day for the Lorain Police Department and the law enforcement community,” said Elyria Police Chief James Welsh. “They need the support of the public right now, as do all the law enforcement agencies in this area.”