ATLANTA (AP) — Two Atlanta transit police officers were shot after they tried to confront a man urinating in a train station, investigators say.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Chief M. Scott Kreher tells local news outlets that officials are looking for the man, who got away after shooting at the officers as they tried to arrest him late Thursday.
The shooting happened just before midnight at MARTA’s Five Points station, the downtown transfer point for the system’s trains.
Kreher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the man became irate and refused to cooperate when officers approached him. Officers decided to arrest the man, but Kreher said he pulled out a handgun and shot over his shoulder at the officer. He grazed a female officer in the knee and struck a male officer in the arm.
The female officer has been released from the hospital but is also reporting hearing loss because she was so close when the gun was fired. Kreher said she is expected to fully recover. The male officer was undergoing surgery Friday for his arm injury.
Cameras show the man then got on a train and rode two stops south, throwing his gun on the roof of the West End station. Police haven’t publicly identified the man but say they know who he is and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force is looking for him.
The gun has been recovered.
The Five Points station reopened when trains started running Friday morning.
One of the three Lorain Police Department officers attacked in an ambush while having lunch has died.
“The Lorain Police Department is heartbroken to announce the line-of-duty death of Officer Phillip C. Wagner, who passed away surrounded by his family at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025,” according to a news release from the Lorain Police Department.
Wagner, 35, joined the Lorain Police Department in February 2022.
Prior to his service with Lorain police, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the Sheffield Village Police Department.
From the very beginning of his career, Wagner was a respected and beloved member of our law enforcement family, the release said.
Known for his dedication, professionalism, and compassion, he exemplified the very best of what it means to serve and protect, the release said.
Wagner proudly served seven years in law enforcement, the release said.
Just two days before this tragic shooting, he achieved a significant milestone — earning his SWAT pin after a year of dedicated training and hard work, according to the release.
Despite the efforts of fellow officers, first responders and medical professionals, Wagner died of his injuries.
“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” said Lorain acting police Chief Mike Failing said in the release. “On behalf of the Wagner family, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out in support.
“Our department mourns the loss of a true hero and stands in unwavering support of Officer Wagner’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this heartbreaking time. We ask the community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as we come together to honor his memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice.”
Information regarding funeral arrangements and opportunities for public remembrance will be shared in coming days, the release said.
Michael Joseph Parker (Photo courtesy of the Elyria Police Department)
As Lorain police officers arrived on the scene of the ambush that left two officers critically injured and one with a serious injury, they were met with significant gunfire from Michael Parker, 28, of Lorain, according to a news release from the Elyria Police Department, which is investigating the incident.
Officers returned fire during the exchange, which resulted in Parker suffering a fatal injury.
“This incident has deeply impacted all of us in law enforcement,” said Elyria Police Department Chief James Welsh. “Our hearts are with the officers who were injured, their families, and the entire Lorain Police Department during this incredibly difficult time.
“We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the agencies that responded swiftly and selflessly during this critical incident. The coordinated efforts of our regional law enforcement partners — including tactical teams, bomb technicians, patrol units and investigators — were instrumental in ensuring public safety, securing the scene and advancing this complex investigation.
“In moments of crisis, it’s the strength of our partnerships that carries us through.”
The shooting
The incident began at 1:04 p.m., when Lorain Police Department officers responded to a radio broadcast of shots fired by an on-duty officer in the area of River Bend Drive, according to a news release from Elyria police Capt. Bill Lantz.
Two of the Lorain police officers who were struck by gunfire by Parker were parked in their patrol cruisers eating lunch when they were attacked, the release said.
A third officer responded and was shot in the hand.
He’s since been treated and released.
The injured officers were transported to area hospitals.
Lorain police requested mutual aid prompting numerous law enforcement agencies, including tactical teams, responded and conducted a coordinated search of surrounding areas to confirm there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
Once the scene was secured, the Elyria Police Department Investigative Unit, with assistance from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, initiated an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Preliminary findings indicate that Parker had parked his vehicle near the dead end of River Bend Drive.
Located inside and around the vehicle were multiple high-powered rifles, handguns and a substantial quantity of loaded magazines, according to the release.
While securing the vehicle, law enforcement personnel saw suspicious baggage, raising concerns about possible explosive devices, the release said.
The Lorain County Bomb Squad was contacted.
Upon further inspection, bomb technicians discovered a significant quantity of improvised explosive materials within the vehicle, the release said.
The materials were safely removed and disposed of through a controlled detonation away from the crime scene.
Following this, BCI investigators began processing the scene and collecting evidence.
Initial analysis indicated that Parker fired a significant number of rounds during the course of the encounter.
Later that evening, investigators obtained a search warrant for Parker’s residence in the 1500 block of North Lakeview Boulevard in Lorain.
At 6 p.m., the Lorain County S.W.A.T. Team executed the warrant and bomb technicians cleared the property, confirming no explosive threats were present.
Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact Elyria police Lt. Tom Wade at 440-326-1362 or wade@cityofelyria.org.
Investigators continue to develop evidence to determine information that may shed light on Parker’s motives for the shooting.
“The Elyria Police Department remains committed to working with our partnering agencies to ensure a complete and professional investigation,” the release said. “Updates will be provided as the case progresses.”
Community response
The mood of the city is sober and grim as news continues to trickle through the community.
A vigil took place July 23 outside City Hall following the event and another will occur again late July 24 in honor of the officers.
The organizers of the Lorain Lighthouse announced the lights will be dark blue beginning July 31 in support of the officers who were attacked.
“We are sending our thoughts, prayers and support to the 3 officers, their families and the Lorain Police Department,” the organizers stated on social media.
Meanwhile, City Hall remains closed until July 28 in light of the tragedy.
The digital sign in front of City Hall states, “In these difficult times, keep Lorain Police in your thoughts and prayers.”
Flags on City Hall property are being flown at half-staff.
“Today, our community was rocked by the tragic shooting of three officers from the Lorain Police Department,” said Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo. “As a prosecutor, I work closely with law enforcement every day, and I’ve seen firsthand the courage, integrity and selflessness these individuals bring to the job.
“Their sacrifice is a stark reminder of the dangers police face in service of public safety. To every officer who puts on the uniform despite the risks: thank you. We stand with you.
“And to the families of the injured, our hearts are with you as you navigate the road ahead. We honor their service. We demand accountability. And most importantly, we commit to supporting our law enforcement partners as they heal and continue the vital mission of protecting our community.”
Lorain City Schools also issued a statement on the incident.
“We are heartbroken by the events unfolding in our city today,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the Lorain Police Department, our first responders, and the families affected by this tragedy.
“Lorain City Schools stands in full solidarity with the city of Lorain and our partners in law enforcement. Recognizing this difficult time, all district offices and school buildings will be closed on Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25. We ask our Titan community to keep our city in your thoughts and to support one another with care and compassion in the days ahead.”
A Pontiac man accused of shooting two men last year, killing one of them, has a new trial date.
Jury selection is set to begin Oct. 21 in Oakland County Circuit Court for the case against Jermaine Lee Jackson, 27, charged in the homicide of Json Markell Hunt, 27, of Clinton Township. Jackson faces charges of open murder, assault with intent to murder and felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of felony firearm.
Jermaine Lee Jackson booking photo
The shooting happened at a business in the 400 block of West Huron Street in Pontiac on Jan. 14, 2024, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
The other man who was shot was reportedly Hunt’s cousin.
Jackson had been scheduled for trial earlier this year, but that was subsequently adjourned.
Jackson is held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.
Another man connected to the case, Ja-Vontay Boykin, is charged with two counts of accessory after the fact. He had also been charged with lying to police, but that was dismissed. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 28.
Judge Daniel O’Brien is presiding over both cases.
Oakland County Circuit Court (Aileen Wingblad/MediaNews Group)
The Detroit Police Department is asking city council to increase its enforcement of the city’s youth curfew. Fines for the parents of kids out past 10 p.m. is $75 and could go up to $200.
This is a response to an increase in violence among young people, including several shootings this month.
The issue of teen violence recently came up at Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners Community meeting. It’s also started a conversation about how to better support young people in Detroit.
Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt talked to Detroit Documenter Nadia Ziyad and Coordinator Lynelle Herndon about solutions that are being discussed at meetings and in the community.
We also spoke with Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison last week about the changes to Detroit’s curfew fines. He said the fines are meant to encourage parent accountability and prevent those parents from greater problems down the road.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
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The Michigan Court of Appeals is allowing a case filed by the family of a murdered Oxford High School student to move forward.
The family of Hana St. Juliana alleges the Michigan State Police failed to fulfill a legal obligation to act on information that could have averted the 2021 mass shooting.
The case never made it to the argument stage in the Michigan Court of Claims. The judge ruled the family missed the deadline to notify the state of its plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit within six months of the shooting.
But, in a unanimous opinion released Friday, a three-judge Court of Appeals panel reversed that decision. The court said that clock did not start until a probate judge named St. Juliana’s father as the personal representative of her estate.
“The state of Michigan attempted to use a technicality to deprive our clients of their day in court and we are pleased that the Court of Appeals saw past that and is going to allow this case to proceed,” said Kevin Carlson, the attorney for the St. Juliana family.
The complaint outlines reports of concerning behavior by the shooter that were submitted to the Michigan OK2Say tipline,which serves as a central location to report crimes, threats and concerns regarding schools and students. It says the Michigan State Police failed to live up to its responsibilities to investigate reports submitted through that system. It also says a school official and an Oakland County deputy sheriff dismissed the concerns.
Carlson said the 2013 law that set up OK2Say puts the final legal responsibility to check on those tips with the state.
“The question in this case, and the focal point of this lawsuit, is going to be why did the Michigan State Police not intervene to prevent the shooting at Oxford High School?” he told Michigan Public Radio.
The Michigan State Police did not respond to a message seeking comment. The state could appeal the decision to the Michigan Supreme Court.
St. Juliana and three classmates were killed in the November 30, 2021, mass shooting. Seven others were injured.
Carlson said unless the state appeals, his next step is to seek unredacted versions of police reports related to the shooting.
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Last week, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison joined Mayor Mike Duggan and other officials in announcing the launch of a new teen violence prevention plan.
Under the new plan, minors age 15 and under must be with a parent after 10 p.m. The curfew for children ages 16 and 17 is 11 p.m. The plan also calls for increased curfew enforcement, illegal block party enforcement, and higher fines for breaking curfews.
The “crackdown” on curfew violations is in response to recent shooting incidents involving children in the city. But how effective can that be in stopping violent crime, and what else is the city doing to stop violence at the root?
Bettison joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the city’s new violence prevention plan and talk about why violence tends to spike during the summer months.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
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The firearm store that sold the gun used in the Oxford High School shooting is asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to dismiss a liability lawsuit filed by the family of a survivor.
In a filing with the court, Acme Shooting Goods argues that it’s too far removed from the crime to be held culpable. The business said store personnel had no way of knowing the 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun would be used in a mass shooting, or that James Crumbley was making the purchase for his teenaged son.
The brief, which uses the killer’s initials instead of his name, argues the claim requires assumptions that are not reflected in the record.
“E.C. stated that he asked his dad to purchase the gun for him; that he gave his dad money for the gun; that he picked out the gun; and that the gun was not kept in a locked container. But E.C. did not testify—and the complaint does not allege—that any of these statements or actions occurred in the store during the sale,” said the brief. It also said the plaintiffs did not identify “red flags” that should have alerted staff the purchase was a “straw sale” being made by the elder Crumbley for his son.
In the lawsuit, the family of Elijah Mueller, who was 14 at the time he was injured in the 2021 shooting, said they can show the dealer knew this was a straw sale by the shooter’s father for his teenaged son.
Matthew Turner, the attorney for the Mueller family, told Michigan Public Radio he can show the gun store skirted the rules when it allowed the shooter and his father to walk out with the gun used in the shootings.
“And we believe that there’s plenty of facts that, if we are fortunate enough to get to discovery, that will demonstrate that they knew that this gun was being purchased for the minor, who’s name I’m not going to use,” he said. “We think that there’s an important societal purpose and benefit to hold gun dealers accountable when they don’t follow the mandates of the law and something bad happens.”
Michigan and federal law make it difficult to sue gun dealers and manufacturers, but Lekha Menon, an attorney with Giffords Law Center, said there are cases being pursued across the country to hold the firearm industry more culpable for mass shootings.
“And I think claims like this against negligent dealers allow individuals to say, well, you had a duty to act a certain way, you violated that duty, and so we can hold you accountable,” she said. “And the more successful claims that we have like that, I think the more similar cases we’ll have popping up in relation to shootings like that.”
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A 34-year-old West Bloomfield mother is facing a criminal charge for allegedly leaving a loaded gun in her child’s backpack which was brought into a Royal Oak daycare center.
Karen Reid is charged with reckless use of a firearm — a misdemeanor — for the alleged May 14 incident.
According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Reid handed the daycare employee the backpack when she dropped off her 3-year-old at the childcare facility.
It was supposed to have the child’s snack in it, but when the employee opened the backpack the loaded handgun was found. It’s alleged Reid put the gun in the backpack to carry it to and from her car but failed to remove it before dropping off her child.
“I’m grateful this is a story about a misdemeanor charge instead of a tragedy,” Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated in a news release. “A loaded gun needs to be secured. Failing to do so around small children is absolutely reckless. The employee who found the gun should be commended for quickly securing it and contacting police.”
The charge is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. It can also result in suspension of hunting privileges for up to three years.
The first of three men charged in connection with the killing of an Oakland County sheriff’s deputy in 2024 will spend between five and 20 years in prison after his sentencing in a Detroit courtroom Friday.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Charise Anderson ordered Karim Moore, 19, to spend at least five years in prison after he pleaded guilty in March to conducting a criminal enterprise, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, and felony firearm in connection with Deputy Brad Reckling’s death.
Recking, 30, was killed June 22, 2024 while he and other members of a cross-jurisdictional task force investigated a Chevrolet Equinox stolen from an Oakland County waterpark. Reckling allegedly was shot three times while tailing the car in Detroit, working undercover.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office charged three people, including Moore, in connection with Reckling’s death. Anderson sentenced Moore to two years for the felony firearm count and between three and 20 years for the criminal enterprise count. Those two sentences will run consecutively, which brings the minimum time Moore will spend in prison to five years. Anderson sentenced Moore to one to five years for the stolen motor vehicle charge.
Prosecutor Matthew Penney said in court he hoped Friday’s sentencing would be the first step in allowing Reckling’s family to “turn the page” in their lives after his killing. He acknowledged they still have a long road ahead of them, with the cases of two other people charged in connection with Reckling’s death still yet to reach resolutions.
“This is just the first step in a much longer process that this poor family has been enduring for the last 11 months,” Penney said.
More than a dozen supporters of Reckling sat on one side of the courtroom, including his widow, Jacqueline. The couple had three small children and a fourth on the way when Reckling died.
Wearing a white dress shirt, bow tie, sneakers and ankle monitor, Moore did not make a statement to the court. He appeared with his defense attorney, Adam Clements, who characterized Moore as someone who has accepted accountability for what he did and has been cooperative in showing up to court. He has not posed an ongoing danger to his community and even found a job, Clements told the court.
“This young man will have an opportunity, when he gets out, to try to turn his life around.”
Clements had requested Moore be sentenced under a law targeted at young defendants that would have made him eligible for release after three years.
“He’s accepted accountability for his actions. He was wrong, and he embraced that,” Clements told The News in an interview after the sentencing.
Reckling’s family did not speak at the sentencing or to reporters afterward.
A separate case against Moore accusing him of resisting arrest has been dismissed.
Deputies escorted him out of the courtroom to begin his sentence. He was not handcuffed.
Ramon DeBose, 18, of Clinton Township is accused of killing Reckling. Marquis Goins, 18, of Detroit, also faces charges as an accessory. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said DeBose drove the SUV, and Goins and Moore rode as passengers at the time of the shooting.
Judge Shawn Jacque in Detroit’s 36th District Court ordered DeBose in March to stand trial. DeBose faces life in prison if convicted.
From L to R, Defendant Karim Moore, 19, one of the defendants charged in connection with the shooting death of Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Reckling, and his attorney Adam Clements listen to Honorable Charise L. Anderson during sentencing hearing at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center on May 2, 2025, in Detorit, MI. (Clarence Tabb Jr./The Detroit News/TNS)
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