Officer Phillip Wagner, 35, of the Lorain Police Department, has died in the line of duty.
A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 2018 police academy graduate, Officer Wagner began his law enforcement career with Sheffield Village Police before joining Lorain.
He leaves behind his loving wife and three young children. Lorain mourns this heartbreaking loss, remembering his courage, dedication, and the kind, devoted man he was both on duty and at home. Rest in peace, Officer Wagner.
Wagner was a 3-year veteran of the Lorain Police Department. He graduated from the police academy in 2018 and went on to work with the Sheffield Village Police.
The 35-year-old leaves behind a wife and three children. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Wagner was pronounced deceased at MetroHealth Medical Center, where he had been receiving treatment for critical injuries.
Wagner and his partner, Officer Peter Gale, 51, were splitting a pizza on their lunch break in the area of Colorado and Missouri avenues around 1 p.m. when police said the suspect, Michael Parker, 28, ambushed them with a high-powered rifle.
Lorain Police Officer Brent Payne, 47, rushed to the scene to help and was also shot.
Officer Payne is listed in critical condition at MetroHealth in Cleveland.
Officer Gale was taken to Mercy Medical with a gunshot wound to the hand.
The suspect, Parker, died on the scene.
A candlelight vigil took place Thursday in Lorain to support three city police officers shot in an ambush.
The Elyria Police Department is handling the investigation and has requested assistance from the Ohio BCI.
There will be a procession for Wagner on Friday afternoon.
According to a Facebook post from North Ridgeville Police, the procession will be from Cleveland to Liston Funeral Home in North Ridgeville.
The procession will begin at 4 p.m. and travel on I-480 West to Lorain Road, north on Lear Nagle Road, west on Center Ridge Road to the funeral home near Stoney Ridge Road.
These roads will be closed during the procession.