RITTMAN, Ohio (WOIO) – Four people are dead, including an officer, a suspect, a mother and a daughter, after a shooting late Sunday in Rittman.
Rittman police have identifed the deceased officer as Sgt. Scott Ries, 54, a 10-year veteran of the department.
Rittman police have identifed the deceased officer as Sgt. Scott Ries, a 10-year veteran of the department.(Source: Rittman Police Department)
Wayne County Sheriff Tom Ballinger said that the two other victims were a mother and her 13-year-old daughter. Their names have not yet been released.
Ballinger confirmed that at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, dispatch received a 911 call reporting shots fired at 90 Chippewa Trail.
Officers responded to the area around North Metzger Avenue and Saurer Street and immediately started taking fire, the sheriff said.
Four dead, including officer, after shooting in Wayne Co.
Ries and two others were killed during the shooting. The sheriff said the suspect is also dead.
Four additional responding officers, all from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, were struck by gunfire.
According to a joint statement from Rittman Police Chief Robert Shows, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and Medina County Sheriff Terry Grice, two of the officers who were taken to a local hospital for treatment are stable.
The two other officers were treated at the scene and released.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Officer K9 Vick was struck by gunfire and remains in serious condition at a local animal hospital.
Rittman Police Sgt. Scott Ries killed
Ries was a 10-year veteran of the Rittman Police Department. He joined full-time in 2018 and was promoted in 2023, according to department social media posts.
Rittman Mayor Rudy Arnold has ordered flags be flown half-staff across the city in honor of Ries.
He previously served as a deputy sheriff for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and an officer for the Sugar Grove Police Department in Fairfield County, according to a news release.
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 support from our community and law enforcement partners.
The 54-year-old will be remembered for his dedication to serving and protecting others, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said in a statement.
The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio shared the following on social media on Monday.
“Enough is enough… The deliberate and targeted violence directed at the men and women who protect our communities must end. We have attended far too many funerals, stood through far too many memorial services, and comforted far too many grieving families. Every attack on a law enforcement officer is an attack on the safety of the communities they have sworn to protect.
The increasing number of ambushes and targeted attacks against law enforcement officers across our nation is unacceptable and represents a stain on our society. We cannot allow this violence to become the new normal. It is time for all Ohioans to stand together in support of those who put on the badge every day, knowing they may not return home to their families. It is time to Protect Ohio Police.
The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio asks every citizen to keep all of the responding officers, investigators, emergency medical personnel, and everyone affected by this tragedy in their prayers. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the law enforcement profession and honoring the memory of our fallen hero through continued advocacy for the safety and protection of those who serve.”
The investigation
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded and remain on scene Monday morning, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
According to a news release, BCI is taking lead on the investigation.
19 News is working to learn more about the suspect and what led up to the shooting.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
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