LORAIN, OH - Three officers with the Lorain Police Department (LPD) were shot in an ambush attack during the afternoon on Wednesday, July 23rd, and now communities across the state are putting together fundraisers for the families impacted.
One of the officers died after being ambushed, News5 reported. Officer Phillip Wagner died and two other officers were injured.
Officer Peter Gale was eating lunch with Wagner when they were attacked. Gale was shot in the hand and has several broken bones.
Officer Brent Payne responded to the scene and was shot multiple times upon arriving.
In the days since the shooting, Abbie Payne said it's been difficult for her family as her father continues to recover from being shot. "We're holding up day by day, little by little but we are a strong family," Abbie Payne said.
"My dad is a big and strong man, but it's been a lot. I know it's going to be a lot on him."
Several communities across the state of Ohio are showing their support for the families of the three officers, reminding them that they are not alone.
"It's a very overwhelming amount of support coming from people we don't even know," Abbie Payne said.
"And they are coming out to support us or sending messages and it's been greatly appreciated," she added. She said she wanted to do something special for her dad.
"I figured I could do something little at least for my dad, something that make[s] him feel better just a little bit. I know it's a lot for him right now, but if I can support him, that's what matters," she said.
"I need him to be around for his first grandchild next year."
On July 24th, she hosted a fundraising dinner that included raffle tickets and gift baskets. The proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards Payne's recovery and family.
"We are also donating some baskets and some other stuff to the two other families too, this is a very traumatic time, and we want to do all that we can," Abbie Payne said.
Across town at the 15th annual show in LaGrange, the LaGrange Firefighter Association decided to donate all the proceeds from the annual car show to the three officers' families.
"There is two family members on the EMS squad that was related to one of the officers, so it hit close to home for our town," said Erica Domec, owner of LaGrange IGA.
After hearing about the fundraiser efforts, the community showed out. "It's been nonstop Thursday and Friday, and we have over 75 baskets and gift cards donated since the announcement," Domec said.
She said that throughout the years, most of the visitors have been local, but this time the fundraiser brought out people from all over.
"There are people here I have never seen before and I got a phone call that somebody was driving from Youngstown to be into the show today just because of the cause," she added.
