A candlelight vigil followed a deadly Wayne County shooting that also wounded officers.
RITTMAN, Ohio — Hundreds of people gathered Monday to mourn a police sergeant, a mother and her daughter after a shooting left four people dead and several officers wounded in this Wayne County city.
The vigil came one day after Sgt. Scott Ries, Christine McWilliams and 13-year-old McKinley McWilliams were killed during a police response to a reported break-in and shots fired. Authorities identified Brandon Fazekas as the suspect and said he also died at the scene.
Community members placed candles, flowers and signs outside the Rittman Police Department and near the Chippewa Trail home. Mayor Rudy Arnold said Ries gave his life while answering a call for people he did not know. Residents described Rittman as a close community shaken by a rare burst of violence.
Authorities said the first 911 call came around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Responding officers came under gunfire shortly after arriving. Four officers were struck, and a Wayne County sheriff’s K9 named Vick was seriously hurt. Two officers were hospitalized in stable condition, while two others were treated at the scene.
Ries, 54, had served 10 years with Rittman police and was promoted to sergeant in 2023. Before joining the department, he worked for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Sugar Grove Police Department. City officials said flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day he is laid to rest.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the case. Officials have not released the full sequence of gunfire, the exact relationship between the suspect and victims, or the results of autopsies. Investigators are expected to review body camera video, radio traffic, witness statements and physical evidence.
Ohio leaders and law enforcement groups issued statements honoring Ries and supporting the wounded officers. The deaths of Christine and McKinley McWilliams also became a focus of Monday’s gathering, where mourners spoke of a family loss alongside the line-of-duty death.
Rittman officials said the next major update will depend on the investigation and funeral arrangements. As of Tuesday, the city remained under lowered flags while state investigators continued their review.
Author note: Last updated July 7, 2026.