Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Phillip Wagner was ambushed at River Bend Drive near the 2200 block of Colorado Avenue in Lorain on July 23, 2025.
At 1:00 p.m., Officer Wagner and another officer were in their patrol vehicle eating lunch when a man opened fire on their patrol car. When they called for help, another officer was also ambushed.
Two officers were Life Flighted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, and one officer was treated for a gunshot wound to his hand at Mercy Health- Lorain Hospital. Officer Wagner succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds the next day.
The shooter was killed in an exchange of gunfire with responding officers.
Officer Wagner was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Lorain Police Department for three years and the Sheffield Village Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-F6BA4726- 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Wagner gave the Lorain Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lorain community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Phillip C. Wagner served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Phillip C. Wagner 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 Lorain Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Phillip C. Wagner's cause is highlighted.
How Phillip C. Wagner Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Phillip C. Wagner is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Phillip C. Wagner was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lorain Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
