Follow us on

Thursday, May 23, 2013 | 1:17 a.m.

Web Search by YAHOO!

Updated: 5:56 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 | Posted: 11:25 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011

Deputy, gunman killed in shootout

A German Twp. police officer also wounded in the Saturday morning incident at Enon Beach

Related

Deputy’s death drives proposal for new law photo
Clark County deputies and German Twp. officers open fire on a trailer at Enon Beach on Saturday. A deputy sheriff was killed and a German Twp. patrolman was injured. The suspect was later reported dead. Staff photos by Marshall Gorby
Deputy’s death drives proposal for new law photo
The body of Clark County Sheriff's deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper wasescorted by members of law enforcement as it was transported back to Clark County Sunday, Jan. 2.

By Valerie Lough

Staff Writer

MAD RIVER TWP. — A Clark County deputy sheriff was shot to death, a German Twp. police officer wounded and the gunman killed at Enon Beach early New Year’s Day.

On Sunday, the alleged gunman was identified as Michael L. Ferryman.

Suzanne Waughtel Hopper, 40, was killed after she responded to a report of shots fired into one of the trailers at Enon Beach around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly.

Hopper, a married mother of two, died at the scene, said Kelly.

German Twp. Patrolman Jeremy Blum was wounded in a gunfight with the shooter as police moved in to pull Hopper out and disarm the gunman. Blum was flown to Miami Valley Hospital with gunshot wounds to his arm and shoulder, officials say. Hospital officials listed his condition as fair late Saturday.

The gunman, whose name isn’t being released pending notification of relatives, was killed in the gunfight.

A neighbor of the gunman called authorities at 11:25 a.m. to report that a shot had been fired into their trailer, said Kelly.

Hopper was outside the gunman’s trailer when the man emerged with a shotgun, said Kelly.

“He fired one shotgun blast, fatally wounding the deputy,” he said.

Officers from at least five local agencies and at least three SWAT teams converged on Enon Beach and surrounded the area before the shooter fired on officers, beginning the brief gunfight. Nearby Interstate 70 was shut down eastbound and westbound for nearly an hour because of the incident.

Hopper joined the sheriff’s office in 1999, Kelly said.

Neighbor Angelina Inman, 34, said she’s known the shooter for a few months.

“I don’t know what would drive him to do something like that ... he’s a nice guy, he’d do anything to help you out,” said Inman.

Inman said she also knew the deputy who was killed, describing her as having a “motherly” demeanor.

“She was a good woman,” said Inman.

Kelly said Hopper was “an outstanding deputy.”

Staff writer Josh Sweigart contributed to this story.

More News

 

Hot topics

 

© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad ChoicesAdChoices.