Ohio cop critically wounded, 4-year-old dead after shootout with ‘possibly suicidal’ gunman

A reportedly suicidal fishy and a 4-year-old miss were killed, and an serviceman was critically wounded, aft the fishy opened occurrence Wednesday connected 2 cops who tried to assistance him, Ohio authorities said.

The incidental unfolded conscionable aft 2 p.m. erstwhile cops successful St. Clair Township were called astir a perchance suicidal man, constabulary said successful a statement. As the officers located the antheral walking down St. Clair Ave. and attempted to talk to him, helium pulled retired a weapon and began shooting, prompting constabulary to instrumentality fire.

“In the shootout, 1 St. Clair Township constabulary serviceman was changeable successful the head,” constabulary said. Bullets besides struck a 4-year-old miss who was “at a adjacent backstage business.”

While the wounded serviceman was responsive, helium was flown to a Pittsburgh-area infirmary successful captious condition, the connection said. He underwent country Wednesday evening and was said to be successful unchangeable condition arsenic of 8:30 p.m. His individuality had not been released.

The kid was flown to different hospital, wherever she aboriginal died. She was shot successful the caput portion successful a dentist office, a constabulary spokesperson told WFMJ.

“The 4-year-old miss has tragically passed away from her injuries,” constabulary said successful an update. “Please commune for her and her family.”

Just earlier 7 p.m., constabulary updated to accidental that the gunman excessively had died.

“The suspect, 30-year-old Joseph Como, has died from his injuries,” the St. Clair Township Police Department said. “Our prayers are with his family.”

Police were inactive trying to marque consciousness of it each connected Wednesday night. They had not released the small girl’s identity.

“We’re trying to gather accusation arsenic accelerated arsenic we can truthful we tin update the community,” Police Chief Brian McKenzie told WKBN. “Right now, we request the assemblage to commune for our serviceman and the kid who were shot.”

The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, the national representing officers successful the state, launched a backing drive for the serviceman and the miss earlier learning of her death.

“Our thoughts are with the St. Clair Township Police Department successful Columbiana County and the radical of that assemblage contiguous aft a tragic officer-involved shooting,” President Jay McDonald said successful a connection Wednesday afternoon. “The kid is conscionable 4 years aged and was an innocent bystander successful this incident.”

Upon learning of her death, the national said it would proceed to rise funds for her family.