Ohio shooting leaves four dead including police officer, suspect; two other officers injured

Four people, including a police officer and a suspected gunman, were killed in a shooting in Ohio Sunday night after officers responding to a 911 call came under fire, authorities said.

The incident took place in Rittman, a town of about 6,000 outside of Akron, prompting a large law enforcement response and a lockdown of part of the community.

Wayne County Sheriff Thomas Ballinger said at a press conference that officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. after reports of shots fired.

According to Ballinger, responding officers “immediately started shooting” upon arriving at the scene.

“At this time we have lost an officer in the line of duty and two others have been injured,” the sheriff said. A police K-9 from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was also injured during the exchange.

Authorities said the suspected gunman and two other people also died in the shooting, bringing the death toll to four.

The motive remains under investigation

Officials have not yet released the identities of those killed, and the motive for the shooting is under investigation.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying, “Very tragic news this morning – a Rittman officer was killed in response to a 911 call last night and two other victims died. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who died, the Rittman Police Department and the entire Wayne County community.”