01-02-2011, 07:35 AM
video of shootout here:
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/....shot.wdtn
A female police officer has been shot dead and another wounded after a dramatic trailer park gun battle in Ohio.
Mother-of-two Suzanne Waughtel Hopper, 40, had driven to the trailer park after reports came in of shots being fired in the Enon Beach area late Saturday morning.
It was as she examined the area and took photos that the door of a nearby silver trailer opened and a man fired a single shot from a shotgun.
Deputy Hopper was killed instantly by the blast.
The officer who had accompanied her desperately tried to reach her body as a gun battle then ensued at the trailer park just southwest of Springfield and about 50 miles west of Columbus.
Sergeant Dustin White had been interviewing a family whose trailer had been shot at when he heard his partner scream.
Enon Beach resident Angelina Inman said: 'He was itching to get her. He kept radioing in, can he please get her, and he was told no because it wasn't secure. You could see him crying - he wanted to get her, he wanted to get her bad.'
The as-yet unidentified man fired again on police who responded to the 'officer down' call, sparking a furious gun battle as officers returned fire with handguns and automatic weapons.
It was during this firefight that Patrolman Jeremy Blum, 32, was also wounded.
Blum was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition.
The shooter, who has not been named until relatives have been notified, was also killed in the gunfight as officers from several different agencies converged on the scene.
Clark County Sheriff Gene A Kelley, who held an emotional press conference at the scene, said he was sure the gunman had been brought down by the hail of police bullets.
With his voice breaking and fighting back tears, Sheriff Kelley said: 'When we entered the trailer the suspect was deceased, apparently from the exchange of gunfire.
'Our deputy never had the opportunity to return fire or take cover. She was an outstanding deputy, is married and a parent of two children.
'This is my worst day in 24 years as a sheriff of Clark County.'
Two Enon Beach residents first made the call to police, saying they were inside their mobile home when they were shaken by a boom and spraying glass.
A shot had been fired at their trailer, shattering a window.
Deputy Hopper, described as a diligent and careful investigator, attended the scene and was taking photos of the scene when a man in a nearby silver trailer emerged, pointed his shotgun at the deputy and fired.
Hopper, 40, was known for her dedication to the job and adherence to keeping herself safe, Kelly said. The former officer of the year was wearing a protective vest Saturday, but it didn't shield her from the gunfire that killed her, he said.
"If she would have known there was a suspect in that trailer she'd have never walked that way without additional units and without taking cover," Kelly said.
Hopper once went six straight years without calling in sick and often put on charity events for the Special Olympics and other causes, Kelly said.
"Her personnel file is filled with accolades and commendations and always service before self," he said.
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/....shot.wdtn
A female police officer has been shot dead and another wounded after a dramatic trailer park gun battle in Ohio.
Mother-of-two Suzanne Waughtel Hopper, 40, had driven to the trailer park after reports came in of shots being fired in the Enon Beach area late Saturday morning.
It was as she examined the area and took photos that the door of a nearby silver trailer opened and a man fired a single shot from a shotgun.
Deputy Hopper was killed instantly by the blast.
The officer who had accompanied her desperately tried to reach her body as a gun battle then ensued at the trailer park just southwest of Springfield and about 50 miles west of Columbus.
Sergeant Dustin White had been interviewing a family whose trailer had been shot at when he heard his partner scream.
Enon Beach resident Angelina Inman said: 'He was itching to get her. He kept radioing in, can he please get her, and he was told no because it wasn't secure. You could see him crying - he wanted to get her, he wanted to get her bad.'
The as-yet unidentified man fired again on police who responded to the 'officer down' call, sparking a furious gun battle as officers returned fire with handguns and automatic weapons.
It was during this firefight that Patrolman Jeremy Blum, 32, was also wounded.
Blum was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition.
The shooter, who has not been named until relatives have been notified, was also killed in the gunfight as officers from several different agencies converged on the scene.
Clark County Sheriff Gene A Kelley, who held an emotional press conference at the scene, said he was sure the gunman had been brought down by the hail of police bullets.
With his voice breaking and fighting back tears, Sheriff Kelley said: 'When we entered the trailer the suspect was deceased, apparently from the exchange of gunfire.
'Our deputy never had the opportunity to return fire or take cover. She was an outstanding deputy, is married and a parent of two children.
'This is my worst day in 24 years as a sheriff of Clark County.'
Two Enon Beach residents first made the call to police, saying they were inside their mobile home when they were shaken by a boom and spraying glass.
A shot had been fired at their trailer, shattering a window.
Deputy Hopper, described as a diligent and careful investigator, attended the scene and was taking photos of the scene when a man in a nearby silver trailer emerged, pointed his shotgun at the deputy and fired.
Hopper, 40, was known for her dedication to the job and adherence to keeping herself safe, Kelly said. The former officer of the year was wearing a protective vest Saturday, but it didn't shield her from the gunfire that killed her, he said.
"If she would have known there was a suspect in that trailer she'd have never walked that way without additional units and without taking cover," Kelly said.
Hopper once went six straight years without calling in sick and often put on charity events for the Special Olympics and other causes, Kelly said.
"Her personnel file is filled with accolades and commendations and always service before self," he said.