Elyria Police Officer & Suspect Fatally Shot

An Elyria, Ohio, police officer was fatally shot after responding to a 9-1-1 call from a woman who said that a neighbor exposed himself to her child and kicked in a window. The incident occurred around 10:20pm Monday evening in the 300 block of 18th Street in Elyria.

Patrolman James Kerstetter was killed during the incident, and the suspect was also fatally shot. According to police chief Duane Whitely, gunfire was exchanged inside the man's home, and more were fired outside. A neighbor reported seeing more than one officer shooting at the suspect.

Officers from Elyria PD, Lorain PD, and the Lorain County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene.

Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely said:

"They went in and picked up the officer and started life support, put him on a gurney and got him to the hospital as quickly as they could, but unfortunately it was too late."

The suspect has been identified by witnesses as Ronald Palmer. Kerstetter is the first police officer in Elyria to be killed in the line of duty in 67 years.