LORAIN, OH — Wednesday, July 23, 2025 — Three Lorain police officers were shot Wednesday afternoon in what Elyria Police Chief Jim Welsh described as an “ambush” during a press conference held following the incident. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Chief Welsh, Lorain officers were patrolling the area near the dead end of Riverbend Drive and Colorado Avenue around 1:00 p.m. when they encountered a man parked at the end of the road. The man opened fire with what was described as a high-powered rifle. Officers returned fire, and the suspect was killed during the exchange.
It remains unconfirmed whether the suspect died from return fire or a self-inflicted wound.
“This was an ambush situation,” Welsh said. “Three officers were shot. One was seriously injured.”
The injured officers were transported for medical treatment. Two were flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, while the third was taken to Mercy Health in Lorain. Their conditions have not been publicly disclosed.
The suspect was identified as a 28-year-old white male with a last known address in Lorain. His name has not been released, pending full confirmation and notification of next of kin. Authorities believe he acted alone.
Following the incident, multiple law enforcement agencies responded, including tactical teams, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and federal partners. A coordinated search of nearby woods and the riverbank confirmed no other suspects were involved.
“We’re fairly confident that he was a lone gunman,” Welsh said.
The Elyria Police Department is leading the investigation, with BCI assisting in evidence recovery and ballistic analysis due to the size and complexity of the crime scene. The weapon used has not been publicly detailed beyond being a high-powered rifle. The motive remains unknown.
Chief Welsh said the officers’ presence in the area was likely part of proactive patrols and not the result of a dispatched call, but emphasized that more details would be confirmed through the investigation.
A bomb squad and the Lorain County Coroner’s Office were also present on scene as part of standard follow-up procedures.
Welsh declined to release the names of the officers until their families had been notified. He asked the public to support the Lorain Police Department and all agencies involved.
“We’re trying to conduct an impartial but thorough investigation so we can determine exactly what transpired here and why this senseless act took place,” Welsh said.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact the Elyria Police Department at (440) 323-3302 or reach out to Lorain Police. Lieutenant Tom Wade of Elyria’s Detective Bureau is serving as the lead point of contact.