Ohio officer killed, 2 wounded in shooting during disturbance call

A Rittman officer was killed, two officers and a Wayne County sheriff’s K-9 were wounded, and the suspected gunman was found dead inside the home

July 06, 2026 08:20 AM

By Cliff Pinckard
cleveland.com

RITTMAN, Ohio — A police officer was killed and three others were dead, including the accused gunman, after a shooting Sunday night at a Wayne County home.

Two other police officers were wounded in the incident, which occurred at about 9:30 p.m. in Rittman, according to cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer news partner WKYC Channel 3.

Wayne County Sheriff Tom Ballinger said in a meeting with reporters that officers were called to the home after receiving a report of a “disturbance” and that shots had been fired.

“Officers responded to the area and immediately started taking fire,” Ballinger said. “At this point in time, we have lost an officer in the line of duty and two other ones have been injured.”

A K9 with the sheriff’s office also was wounded, Ballinger said.

He said the suspect was found dead in the home along with two other victims. No information was released on the victims or the suspect.

Ballinger said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.

Trending

Affiliate Article 1 thumbnail - JP (51).png

K-9

Handler allowed to purchase, keep K-9 after leaving Minn. sheriff’s office

Deputy Steve Henriksen resigned from the Swift County Sheriff’s Office, but didn’t want to be separated from Red, a K-9 that had been assigned to him for more than four years

July 05, 2026 07:00 AM