Multiple police officers shot as National Police Week begins
- Ohio Officer Jacob Derbin was shot and killed in an ambush-style attack
- 3 Atlanta officers wounded in incident that left suspect dead: Authorities
- National Police Week observed May 12-18
(NewsNation) — As National Police Week begins, it coincides with a troubling trend of increasing police deaths. At least five officers were shot, including one who died, over the weekend in shootings across the country.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 58 police officers have lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year, with 22 killed by gunfire. The U.S. is on pace for 21 more officer deaths on the job this year compared to 2023, based on their data.
The most recent loss occurred over the weekend, while several other officers were injured while responding to calls across the country.
Ohio police shootings
Officer Jacob Derbin, of Euclid, Ohio, was shot and killed in an ambush-style attack on Saturday. The 23-year-old military veteran and fiancé served on the police force for less than two years.
The Euclid Police Department said it is devastated by this loss.
“This is a senseless tragedy that did not need to happen. Our sympathies and our deepest condolences go out to Officer Durbin, his family, all of our officers in the Euclid Police Department family,” said Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail.
The suspected shooter, identified as Deshawn Anthony Vaughn, was killed after he was caught during a statewide manhunt, authorities said Sunday.
He was found dead at an address in Shaker Heights on Sunday. An investigation is underway, being conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He was heavily armed. It is not yet clear how the man was killed, police said.
Meanwhile, a Columbus, Ohio police officer was shot and injured Sunday at an Amazon facility while arresting a suspect.
Brian Steel, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9, said multiple officers fired at the suspect, killing him, NewsNation affiliate WCMH-TV reports.
The officer was taken to the hospital in a stable condition. The suspect died during the encounter.
Atlanta police shootings
In Georgia, three Atlanta police officers were wounded after responding to a call that left a suspect dead Saturday evening, authorities said.
“During that encounter, there was a struggle, there was gunfire that resulted in three of our officers being injured. It also resulted in the death of the individual that was armed with the handgun,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a news conference.
The police department didn’t immediately identify the suspect. Police didn’t believe anyone else was involved, Schierbaum said.
They were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. One officer was shot in the shoulder, another was shot in the leg and the third suffered a grazing wound. Two of the officers were expected to undergo surgery, Schierbaum said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting, he said.
Meanwhile, it’s not just gun violence that police face while on duty, one officer was hit in his patrol car by a drunk driver at an intersection in Rochester, New York. Twenty-two officers have died in automobile events this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
What is National Police Week?
National Police Week is observed this year from May 12 through May 18.
National Police Week honors law enforcement who give so much to keep their communities safe and pays homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty, but experts are highlighting the impact of stress on the job.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.