Rittman police officer among 4 dead in Wayne County

RITTMAN, Ohio — Four people are dead, including a Rittman police officer, following a violent night in Wayne County.

Speaking to reporters in the early morning hours, Sheriff Tom Ballinger said that the dispatch center received 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday “for some type of disturbance and shots fired.” Responding officers immediately started taking fire, according to the sheriff.

What Ballinger told reporters:

Rittman officer killed

One police officer was killed, and two others were injured. A K9 from the sheriff’s department was also injured. Ballinger said the suspect and two victims are dead.

The department has identified the fallen officer as Sgt. Scott Ries.

“Sgt. Ries served the Rittman Police Department with honor and courage. Throughout his service, Sgt. Ries demonstrated an enduring commitment to protecting others and upholding the values of our department. Our hearts are broken with this unimaginable loss. The incident remains under active investigation with BCI. We are grateful for the outpouring (of) support from our community and law enforcement partners,” Rittman Police said in a news release Monday morning.

Wayne County Coroner Dr. Amy Jolliff told News 5’s Bob Jones the suspect was a 38-year-old man, and the victims were a woman and her teen daughter who were killed before the officer was killed, and the suspect killed himself.

The officer died at the hospital in Akron.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded.

A News 5 crew was on scene around Cheyenne Drive as they saw drones and a helicopter in the air. They also watched as law enforcement ran through front lawns and backyards, and asked residents how many people were in their house. Their focus appeared to be on a two-story home.

Vehicles from the sheriff’s department and Rittman, Wooster and Smithville police departments, some of which had bullet holes, were towed from the scene.

Watch Nadeen Abusada’s report:

Vehicles with bullet holes where officer was shot

Last night, the Wooster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol asked people to avoid the area near Rittman High School.