Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Justin Winebrenner was shot and killed while confronting an armed subject while off duty at approximately 2:00 am.
He and several friends were at a pub in the 1800 block of East Market Street when another patron became disorderly and was ejected from the business. The man returned a short time later and brandished a handgun at the staff and other customers. A staff member who knew Officer Winebrenner was a police officer alerted him to the situation. He and another off-duty officer confronted the man, who then opened fire.
Officer Winebrenner was struck once in the chest and suffered a fatal wound, while the other officer suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Three citizens were also shot and wounded.
The subject, a convicted felon, fled the scene on foot but was located and taken into custody by a canine unit approximately one mile away. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on October 28, 2015.
Officer Winebrenner had served with the Akron Police Department for seven years and had previously served with the Medina County Juvenile Detention Center for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his 4-year-old daughter and fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-F53A8568- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Winebrenner gave the Akron Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Winebrenner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Justin Robert Winebrenner 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 Akron Police Department, 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Justin Robert Winebrenner's cause is highlighted.
How Justin Robert Winebrenner Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Justin Robert Winebrenner is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Justin Robert Winebrenner was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Akron Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
