Three Ohio Police Officers Wounded by Gunman in Ambush Attack

LORAIN, Ohio – Authorities late Wednesday searched the home of a shooter who wounded three Lorain police officers, critically injuring two of them, in an ambushed attack.

Officers raided the Lorain home of Michael Parker, 28, who officials said fired at Phillip Wagner and Peter Gale. A third patrolman, Brent Payne, was struck when he drove to help his colleagues.

Parker died in the shooting, though investigators said it is unclear whether he died by suicide or from the return fire of the officers.

Lorain County Coroner Frank Miller said his office would perform an autopsy on Parker on Thursday. He and another law enforcement official confirmed that officers searched Parker’s home Wednesday, though they were unclear of what was found.

The raid at Parker’s North Lakeview Boulevard home came hours after he sprayed bullets at Wagner, Payne and Gale with a high-powered rifle.

A search of online records in state and federal courts shows Parker lacked a criminal record. He was charged with just misdemeanors, failure to stop after an accident and assured clear distance, since 2018.

He was the grandson of William Parker, who served as Lorain’s mayor from 1980 to 1984, according to public records and obituary information.

The Chronicle-Telegram of Elyria was the first to report the connection, as well as the raid. It also obtained the patrolmen’s calls for help to dispatchers, including one officer who yelled, “He’s got a rifle, he’s got a rifle, get down … Officer down.”

Wagner and Payne were critically injured. They were flown to MetroHealth Medical Center. Gale was taken to Mercy Health – Lorain. Initially, authorities feared there was more than one shooter. They later revealed it was just Parker.

The incident took place about 1 p.m. at the Colorado Avenue Industrial Park, near Missouri Avenue, at the dead end of River Bend Drive. Lorain’s acting police chief, Michael Failing, said the officers had stopped to eat when the suspect ambushed them, authorities said.

Investigators also found a large cache of explosives in Parker’s car.

Officials praised the three officers, as they attempted to withstand the assault.

Scores of officers then descended on the industrial park. Other officers then went to Parker’s home in Lorain, which he shares with his parents. The home is close to Lakeview Park.