Rittman Police Officer Among 4 Killed in Wayne County Shooting

RITTMAN, Ohio – Four people are dead, including a Rittman police officer, after a shooting Sunday night in Wayne County. Wayne County Sheriff Tom Ballinger said the dispatch center received 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. on July 5 reporting a disturbance and shots fired. Officers who reached the scene immediately came under gunfire, according to the sheriff. One Rittman police officer was killed in the line of duty. Two other officers were wounded, and a K9 from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was also hurt. The suspect was found dead inside a home, along with two other victims, Ballinger said. A large response locks down part of the city Multiple agencies flooded the area, and a portion of Rittman was locked down for hours. News crews near the scene reported drones and a helicopter overhead. Deputies and officers moved through yards and knocked on doors, asking residents how many people were inside their homes. The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Wooster Post asked people to stay away from the area near Rittman High School. By Monday morning, crews had towed away at least six police vehicles. Some of those vehicles carried bullet holes and came from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Rittman, Wooster and Smithville police departments. The Medina County Firefighters Association said county first responders were called in to help after several people were injured. Investigation turns to state agents The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has taken over the case. Ballinger spoke briefly with reporters in the early morning hours and did not take questions. “We’ll have maybe a statement later, but right now, just no questions at this time,” he said. The names of the officer and the other victims have not been released. About Rittman Rittman is a city of roughly 6,100 people that straddles the Wayne and Medina county line in Northeast Ohio. The community sits about 45 miles south of Cleveland and around 20 miles southwest of Akron. This is a developing story, and details may change as officials release more information.