Ohio governor orders flags at half-staff for officer killed in ambush

Three Lorain Police Department officers were shot on Wednesday in what Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, says “appears to have been a targeted attack on law enforcement.” One of the officers shot, Phillip Wagner, has since died from his injuries, leading to an order from DeWine for flags to be flown at half-staff in the state of Ohio. A suspect was identified on Thursday as Michael Parker, who was killed at the scene.

The shooting, described by police as an “ambush situation,” took place in Lorain while Officer Wagner and Officer Peter Gale were parked side by side in their cruisers enjoying lunch on Wednesday afternoon. A third officer, Brent Payne, was shot while responding to the scene.

Lorain is one of the most populous cities in the Greater Cleveland area and one of the top 10 most populous cities overall in Ohio.

DeWine on Thursday ordered that U.S. and Ohio flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Wagner’s funeral. According to the governor’s office, such locations include “all public buildings and grounds throughout Lorain County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus.”

The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office posted a tribute to their Facebook account for Wagner and his “End of Watch” on Thursday. The Elyria Police Department, which is investigating the shooting, has also posted tributes and support.

The Chronicle-Telegram, which covers Elyria and Lorain, has multiple headlines about the shooting, including updates on the suspect and details on a vigil for Wagner. This is the first line-of-duty death in more than 100 years for Lorain police, according to the outlet.

The shooting, even before Wagner’s death, garnered not only local media attention, but made national headlines as well.

ABC News shared details of the shooting, including how it took place shortly after 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday.

Acting Lorain Police Chief Michael Failing detailed how the suspect “was laying in wait and opened fire with multiple rounds at both of the officers who were sitting in their vehicles,” who was described as being armed with a “high-powered rifle,” and who also had an “arsenal of weapons.”

While the suspect was quickly identified, Elyria Police Chief James Welsh indicated during Wednesday’s press briefing that “it will take time to determine exactly what transpired here today.”

The Chronicle-Telegram also reported on Thursday that the suspect had three traffic tickets, the most recent from 2022 and 2023.

“One of the officers shot — Officer Wagner — cited Parker with leaving the scene of an accident and going left of center, both misdemeanor traffic offenses, on Nov. 9, 2022,” the report mentioned. “It wasn’t known if Parker knew when he allegedly opened fire on the officers that one of them had ticketed him two-and-a-half years ago,” the report also added.

According to the Elyria Police Department, the shooting is “under investigation.”

DeWine wasn’t the only Ohio Republican to weigh in. Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, R-Ohio, also chimed in over social media.

In addition to noting that his team was “monitoring the situation” and he was “keeping these officers and their families in [his] thoughts,” Moreno also posted about the “unacceptable” nature of the situation.

“Attacks on law enforcement are unacceptable and I’m proud to stand with our brave men and women in blue,” he added.

Husted also offered his thoughts and prayers and whatever assistance he and his staff could lend.

“There is no place for this kind of violence in our state or country,” his post from Wednesday read in part. He’s since put out another post following Officer Wagner’s death in which he called for passing the Protect and Serve Act, which he is a co-sponsor of.

Earlier this month, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund released its 2025 midyear fatalities report, showing that 42 federal, state, or local law enforcement officers have died in the first six months of the year, down from the 89 deaths at such a point.

[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.]