Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Anthony Morelli and Police Officer Eric Joering were shot and killed when they responded to a suspected domestic violence/911 hangup call in the 300 block of Crosswind Drive.
When officers arrived at the home, they made contact with the residents of the apartment and were let inside. As they walked into the apartment, a 30-year-old male subject opened fire on them, mortally wounding Officer Joering and Officer Morelli. Despite their wounds, both officers were able to return fire and wounded the subject, who was taken to a hospital.
Officer Morelli was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.
The subject, a convicted felon, had beaten and strangled his wife before officers arrived. He was charged with two counts of capital murder of a law enforcement officer. He was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences without parole and 26 1/2 years.
Officer Morelli worked at the Fairlawn Police Department for a year before becoming a 29-year veteran of the Westerville police force.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E88898CB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Morelli gave the Westerville Division of Police 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Westerville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Morelli.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Anthony Pasquale Morelli is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Westerville Division of Police, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony Pasquale Morelli's cause is highlighted.
How Anthony Pasquale Morelli Compares
Offender Outcome
Two life sentences plus 26 1/2 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony Pasquale Morelli is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anthony Pasquale Morelli was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Westerville Division of Police are honored on badge.nw.
