COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio — An Ohio police officer was critically injured and a 4-year-old child is dead after a shooting in Columbiana County Wednesday afternoon, according to our CBS affiliate WOIO-19 TV.
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The suspect, who has since been identified by investigators as Joseph Como, 30, has also died.
St. Clair Township Police officers responded to reports of a suicidal man around 2 p.m.
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Officers found Como walking down the street and tried to talk to him. That’s when Como reportedly opened fire, WOIO-19 reported.
Police officers returned fire and struck him, according to a spokesperson with the St. Clair Township Police Department.
A St. Clair police officer was shot in the head during the exchange of gunfire, WOIO-19 reported.
The officer was flown to an area hospital in critical condition.
A 4-year-old girl at a nearby dentist officer was struck by a bullet during the shootout, WOIO-19 reported.
She was flown to a hospital, where they later died.
St. Clair Township Police Department said the office is out of surgery and is in stable condition.
“We’re trying to gather information as fast as we can so we can update the community. Right now, we need the community to pray for our officer and the child who were shot,” St. Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie said.
Ohio BCI is investigating this shooting, according to WOIO-19.
This shooting remains under investigation.
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