Prosecutors ruled the use of force was justified for man who shot 3 Lorain police officers in ambush

LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - The Lorain County Prosecutor shared the results of the review of the officer-involved shooting that occurred in July 2025.

On July 23, 2025, Michael Parker, 28, drove to a dead end street and ambushed officers.

Officer Phillip Wagner was shot and killed, officers Brent Payne and Peter Gale were severely injured.

Evidence collected showed Parker came prepared for a massive gunfight.

The dash cam shows bullets hitting one of the cruisers windshield, and Lorain officers returned fired and killed Parker.

The Elyria Police Department shared the prosecutor’s letter, and the letter found that the officers were cleared in the shooting.

The Elyria Police Department shared the following statement:

Other findings in the report include Parker went to St Anthony’s of Padua Church, the chapel, right before going to shooting scene, according to an interview with Parker’s mother and vehicle footage.

The report also found that Parker formerly worked as an Amazon driver and was a postal worker.

Parker took out loans to buy AR-15s, he fired over 102 shots at officers and he was shot 12 times.

On the day of the incident, Parker had in his possession at the scene:

• 7 rifles with 5 of them being scoped
• 2 pistols
• 1 shotgun
• 7,500 rounds of various ammunition, 294 loaded magazines
• 3 micro smoke canisters
• 100 pounds of explosive powder

Back in September, 19 News learned that Parker had more than 7,500 rounds of ammunition.

Parker was “heavily armed and prepared for a violent and prolonged encounter,” said Elyria Police Captain Bill Lantz at a news conference in September.

Watch the full news conference here:

Captain Lantz said more than 200 loaded magazines were found, and several containers of loose ammunition were located in Parker’s vehicle.

On July 23, 2025, at 12:46 p.m., Officer Peter Gale pulled into the dead-end of Riverbend Drive, and at 12:52 p.m., Officer Wagner pulled in next to him.

Both officers were eating pizza when Parker arrived and immediately fired multiple shots, hitting Officer Wagner. (It was originally believed Parker was there before the officers.)

Officer Gale managed to drive away to get help.

From 1:04 p.m. to 1:07 p.m., Parker prepared for the arrival of other officers and moved several rifles on either side of his vehicle.

At 1:07:42, Officers Gale and Brent Payne, 47, arrived back at scene.

Within seconds, the front windshield of Officer Payne’s cruiser was struck several times. At least 25-30 rounds were fired.

Officer Payne exited his cruiser and while running towards the woods, he was shot.

Once in the trees, Officer Payne was shot at for at least another 15 seconds.

Officer Payne also returned fire and continued to radio information on what was happening.

Officer Gale’s cruiser was also fired at and Officer Gale was struck. Officer Gale stayed inside the cruiser.

At 1:10 p.m., a SUV with another Lorain police officer and an FBI agent arrived. They were able to find Officer Payne and put a tourniquet on him, “likely saving his life.”

They then transported Officer Payne to Mercy Hospital.

Two other SUVs with Lorain police officers arrived and took cover, while seeing Parker near his silver vehicle.

Those officers fired at Parker, killing him. The last shot was fired at 1:12:36.

Officers then pulled Officer Wagner from his cruiser and rushed him to the hospital.

Officer Wagner died from his injuries on July 24, 2025, at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Officer Gale and Officer Payne survived their injuries, Officer Gale had surgery on his hand.

Officer Payne’s arm was completely shattered and he is not expected to return to police work.

Captain Lantz said they are still working to understand Parker’s plan, motive, and intended targets, but at this time, none of the three officers shot were targeted.

It is not believed the ambush was a “spontaneous act,” and the recent report still indicates no motive for Parker to want to kill police or conduct such incident.

Captain Lantz said they also have no evidence that Parker had any assistance in the crime.

Before 2016, Parker was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Parker, a lifelong resident of Lorain, was unemployed at the time of the shooting and was described as “quiet, kept to himself, and had a fascination with firearms.”

He was living with family members at the time of the crime. They knew he had guns, but didn’t know how many Parker had.

The autopsy showed Parker had no alcohol or drugs in his system.

Lorain police said Parker had “a deliberate and evil plan” and Officer Wagner’s ultimate sacrifice and the responding officer’s response saved lives.

Below is what we know of the three heroes:

Officer Phillip Wagner

Officer Phillip Wagner was a 7-year law enforcement veteran.

He worked with Lorain and Sheffield Village police departments upon his graduation from the police academy in 2018.

The 35-year-old, described as dedicated, professional and compassionate, leaves behind a wife and three children.

He also served in the military as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Officer Wagner is being remembered as a hero, with many people speaking out about how he touched their lives.

On social media, one woman credited Wagner with saving both she and her husband after their car broke down.

She said Officer Wagner responded, stopped traffic and delivered them back home safely.

Officer Brent Payne

Officer Brent Payne has underwent surgery at MetroHealth in Cleveland. He is now recovering with more surgeries ahead.

Family friends describe the husband and father as a protector.

19 News has learned Payne saved a woman who was in cardiac arrest back in 2016 in Grafton Village.

When Payne was working part time for Grafton Village police, he found a woman not breathing and in full cardiac arrest.

He then immediately deployed his AED unit, issued to him by the Lorain Police Department where he was also an officer.

He shocked the woman and performed CPR until EMS could arrive, saving her life.

As a direct result, Grafton Village added AEDs to all police cruisers and city hall.

We also spoke with roofing contractor Tim Kelly, who did extensive work at Payne’s home.

Kelly said Payne is the “epitome of a civil servant” and an attentive family man.

“Not only is he in it for the right reasons, but the courage to put yourself in those situations willingly is beyond honorable,” said Kelly.

Payne has also served with Sheffield Village police.

Officer Peter Gale

Officer Peter Gale has served at the Lorain Police Department since February 2022. But that isn’t the only time he has served his community.

Before his time in Lorain, Officer Gale worked part-time at the Perkins Township Police Department, starting in 2009.

At the same time, he worked at the Erie County Adult Probation Department, starting there a couple years earlier in 2005.

That is where his former partner Keith Williams and Officer Gale met.

“He would do anything for you, it don’t care what time it is, he would do anything for you,” Williams said. “He’ll give you his last, that’s just how he was.”

The two worked for Erie County for over a decade and a half. Williams told 19 News Officer Gale even attended his wedding.

“We just kinda clicked. We worked together for 15 years, and we were just close,” Williams said. “He knows what I’m thinking, I know what he’s thinking, we were just close.”