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Police: 2 Ohio officers killed responding to 911; suspect held

6:10 p.m.

Police in Ohio have identified two officers who were fatally shot at a home in a Columbus suburb and say a suspect is in custody.

Westerville Police Chief Joe Morbitzer says 39-year-old Eric Joering and 54-year-old Tony Morelli were shot around noon Saturday after responding to a 911 hang-up call. He says they were responding to a “potential domestic situation.”

Morbitzer says the officers “gave their lives in defense of others” and “they’re true American heroes.”

Police provided no details about the suspect

Republican Gov. John Kasich, who lives with his family in a nearby township, and President Donald Trump both sent tweets asking for prayers for the officers’ families and colleagues.

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4:22 p.m.

Police in Ohio say two officers have been fatally shot at a home in a Columbus suburb, and a suspect is in custody.

Westerville police say in a statement that the shootings happened Saturday after officers responded to a 911 hang-up call around 11:30 a.m. The officers were shot after they arrived at a residence.

Police say a suspect is in custody but provided no other details.

Authorities have scheduled a news conference for later Saturday afternoon.

Republican Gov. John Kasich, who lives with his family in a nearby township, tweeted he’s “very saddened to learn of the deaths of two of my hometown police officers.” He asked Ohio residents to join him in “lifting up these officers’ families in prayer.”

Westerville, on the northeast side of Columbus, is a suburb with about 39,000 residents.

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