Officer Phillip C. Wagner - Lorain Police Department - Ohio

On July 23, 2025, Officer Phillip C. Wagner of the Lorain Police Department (Ohio) was ambushed while eating lunch with another officer.

At approximately 1:00 p.m., Officer Wagner and another officer were in their patrol vehicle eating lunch on River Bend Drive near the 2200 block of Colorado Avenue in Lorain, Ohio.  While doing so, a male opened fire on their patrol vehicle.  When the officers called for help, another responding officer was also ambushed.  

Two officers were Life Flighted to Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, and one officer was treated for a gunshot wound to his hand at Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital.

Tragically, Officer Phillip Wagner succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds the following day on July 24, 2025.  

The shooter was killed in an exchange of gunfire with responding officers.

Officer Wagner was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Lorain Police Department for three years and the Sheffield Village Police Department for four years.  He was 35-years-old.  He is survived by his wife and three children.

As part of our "Plaques for Heroes" campaign, engraved slate memorial plaques were sent to the Lorain Police Department and to Officer Phillip C. Wagner's family at no cost to honor his service and his sacrifice to the community of Lorain, Ohio. Our condolences to his family, his department and the community he served.