Phillip Wagner, Brent Payne Obituary, Death: Ohio shooter who ambushed 3 officers had multiple weapons, police report.

Phillip Wagner, Brent Payne Obituary, Death – Authorities in Ohio are investigating a violent ambush that left three police officers injured after a man opened fire on them with a high-powered rifle. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Lorain, a city located west of Cleveland along Lake Erie. The suspected gunman, identified as 28-year-old Michael Joseph Parker, was killed after a shootout with responding officers.

According to officials, the attack unfolded while two Lorain police officers, Phillip Wagner, 35, and Peter Gale, 51, were on a lunch break in their patrol car on a secluded, dead-end road near a river and a steel mill. While they were eating pizza, Parker approached and began shooting at them using a rifle. Both officers were struck multiple times.

Another officer, Brent Payne, 47, responded to the scene after hearing their distress call and was also shot in the hand. All three officers returned fire during the confrontation, and Parker was fatally wounded in the exchange. Two of the officers remain in critical condition at a trauma center, while the third suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said they found Parker’s vehicle nearby, loaded with multiple rifles, handguns, and fully loaded magazines. Investigators also discovered large quantities of improvised explosive materials in and around the car. The materials were safely removed and detonated.

Authorities stated that Parker appeared to have acted alone in the attack. The motive for the ambush remains unknown.

Parker lived with his parents in a quiet, two-story home near the lake. Neighbors described him as distant and reserved, noting that he often walked the family dog but rarely interacted with others. Jody Burnsworth, a neighbor, said she had always felt uneasy around him, recalling that he gave off an unsettling presence and rarely made eye contact.

Burnsworth added that police searched Parker’s home for over five hours following the incident. Investigators reportedly broke a window on the upper floor and used a drone to assist with the search. She described Parker’s parents as kind and well-liked in the neighborhood, noting that the father had grown up in the home.

Further details about Parker’s background revealed that he had briefly worked for the post office within the past year but left the job shortly after starting, claiming the work was too difficult. Neighbors said he kept mostly to himself and appeared intensely focused when seen in public.

Police departments from nearby Elyria are now leading the investigation. Authorities continue to search for any clues that might explain Parker’s motive or mental state before the attack. As of now, no links to extremist groups or previous violent behavior have been reported.

Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with additional information about Parker or the ambush to come forward as the investigation continues.