The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office ruled that the actions of Lorain police officers were lawful during an ambush that resulted in the death of Officer Phillip Wagner and injuries to Officers Brent Payne and Peter Gale in July 2025. According to WKYC, this conclusion followed a “thorough and independent evaluation of all available evidence,” and the Prosecutor’s Office has issued a “Do Not Present” letter regarding the conduct of the responding officers. The Elyria Police Department led the investigation, which spanned a 283-page redacted report, noting the “comprehensive and professional investigation into this matter.”
On July 23, Michael Parker ambushed officers who were parked on Riverbend Drive during lunch. Parker, a 28-year-old former Amazon driver and postal worker, opened fire on their cruisers, fatally wounding Officer Wagner and severely injuring Officers Payne and Gale. In a statement obtained by Cleveland 19, the Elyria Police Department shared that Parker fired over 102 shots at officers and was shot 12 times himself. Investigators found no evidence that the ambush was a “spontaneous act,” and the report indicates no clear motive for Parker’s actions. He was described by those who knew him as “quiet” and someone who “kept to himself,” with a fascination for firearms…