Toledo Police Officer Killed In Stand-Off

TOLEDO, OH — A Toledo police officer was shot and killed on Monday.

Officer Brandon Stalker, 24, was shot during a standoff at a home in Toledo. At 3:50 p.m. on Monday, members of the Toledo police gang task force spotted a suspect wanted for vandalism. The suspect was smoking a cigarette outside of a home, according to Toledo Police Chief George Kral.

Officers approached the suspect, who ran into a nearby home and barricaded himself inside, Kral said during a news conference. Police set up a perimeter and negotiators attempted to talk the suspect down. After hours of discussions, a Toledo SWAT team used gas to force the suspect out of the home, Kral said.

The suspect came out of the house, holding two guns, and began shooting, Kral said. Stalker was part of the perimeter security team when he was hit once by a bullet, Kral added. He died from his injuries.

"He was an amazing police officer," Kral said. "He has a fiance and they have a very young child."

The police chief asked the public and the media to respect the grieving family's privacy and promised to release further details on the incident on Wednesday.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz described Monday as a "horrific day" for the city.

"The events that took place today challenge all of us in how best we should respond to the sadness that we feel in our hearts," Kapszukiewicz said during a news conference. He asked all Toledoans to say a prayer for their city and to respond to the day's events with thoughts of hope and light.

"Perhaps we can drive out the darkness we feel today and create a better path forward for our city, for our police department and for everyone suffering," he said.

Gov. Mike DeWine ordered all U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Lucas County and at the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus. Flags shall remain lowered until sunset on the day of Officer Stalker's funeral.