Toledo Police officer killed in standoff with suspect
This latest line-of-duty death follows that of Officer Anthony Dia on the 4th of July in 2020.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo Police Officer Brandon Stalker, 24, was shot and killed on the night of January 18th, while on the scene of a barricaded gunman.
VIDEO: Toledo Police officer killed, suspect in unknown condition following shootout
TRIGGER WARNING: This video contains loud gunfire and profanity.
Just before 4:00 p.m. on January 18th, officers on the Toledo Police Gang Task Force spotted the suspect wanted for the arson and vandalism of Rosary Cathedral Church earlier that morning. When officers attempted to stop the suspect, he produced a handgun and fled into his house in the 2200th block of Fulton.
A perimeter was established around the house and Toledo Police Critical Incident Negotiators were called to the scene. The suspect did not participate in the more than two hours of de-escalation through negotiation. After the suspect refused to engage in the negotiation, the Toledo Police SWAT team deployed chemical agents into the house in an attempt to force the suspect to exit the home and peacefully surrender. Officer Stalker was stationed on the perimeter of the scene to keep residents away from the scene and line of fire.
At approximately 6:22 p.m., the suspect emerged from the house with a firearm in both hands and fired shots in multiple directions, one of which struck Officer Stalker in the head. Stalker was placed into a Toledo Police vehicle and transported to Mercy St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
“The entire Toledo Police family is in shock. Another hero has paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting the residents of Toledo. Our hearts are heavy tonight,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral.
The suspect, Christopher Harris, 27, was shot by Toledo Police on scene. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. While the investigation is still ongoing and more information is being gathered, it has been confirmed that multiple officers fired their weapons at Harris. All officers will be placed on paid administrative leave per TPD’s collective bargaining agreement.
Officer Stalker joined the Toledo Police Department in July 2018. He was classmates with Officer Anthony Dia, killed in the line of duty on July 4th, 2020. Officer Stalker is the 32nd Toledo police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Additional information, including funeral arrangements, will be made available as soon as possible. Chief Kral will hold a news conference on Wednesday, January 20th, with a time to be determined.
Stalker was not part of the police SWAT team, but was of assistance to those on scene.
TPD asks for privacy during this time, which Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz calls a “very sad day for the city of Toledo”.
Governor Mike DeWine has ordered that all U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds in Lucas County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower in Columbus until sunset on the day of Officer Brandon Stalker’s funeral.
Senator Sherrod Brown released the following statement on the death of Officer Stalker:
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has released the following statement on the shooting death of 24-year-old Officer Brandon Stalker:
