Authorities have identified the man believed responsible for a shooting rampage in Rittman, Ohio, that left a police sergeant, a mother, and her teenage daughter dead over the weekend.
The Wayne County Coroner’s Office confirmed the suspect was 38-year-old Brandon Fazekas of Wayne County, who was found dead at the scene from what investigators describe as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The violence unfolded Sunday night when Rittman police received a 911 call reporting a break-in and shots fired at a home on Chippewa Trail. Officers arriving around 9:30 p.m. came under immediate gunfire as they approached the residence.
Officer and Two Civilians Killed in Gunfire
Sgt. Scott Ries, 54, a Rittman police officer, was shot and killed while responding to the scene, marking a devastating loss for the small community’s police department. Also killed inside the home were 43-year-old Christine McWilliams and her 13-year-old daughter, McKinley McWilliams. Investigators believe Fazekas was either the current or former boyfriend of McWilliams, though the exact nature of their relationship has not been fully detailed publicly.
The shooting triggered a large-scale law enforcement response, with officers converging on the neighborhood as the situation unfolded.
Four members of a combined Medina and Wayne County SWAT team were struck by gunfire during the response. Two of those officers were taken to a local hospital and are listed in stable condition, while the other two were treated for their injuries at the scene.
A Wayne County Sheriff’s Office K9 named Vick was also shot during the incident and remains in serious condition.
Part of the city was placed under a temporary lockdown Sunday night as officers worked to secure the area and investigate the scene.
Community Mourns as Investigation Continues
In the aftermath, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered that American and Ohio flags be lowered to half staff at public buildings across Wayne County, as well as at the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center and the Rhodes State Office Tower. The flags will remain lowered until sunset on the day of Sgt. Ries’ funeral, honoring his sacrifice in the line of duty.
Residents of Rittman have since gathered for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims and support one another through the tragedy. Law enforcement organizations across the region have also expressed condolences, describing Ries’ death as a profound loss for the department and the wider community he served.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has taken the lead on the case, examining the circumstances that led to the shooting and the officer-involved critical incident that followed. Officials have not released additional details about a possible motive, though the connection between Fazekas and the McWilliams family remains a focus of the investigation.
As the community continues to process the tragedy, questions remain about what led to the violent confrontation and whether warning signs existed beforehand.
