Lorain police officer injured in ambush released from hospital

CLEVELAND — Lorain police Officer Brent Payne managed a thumbs up as he fought back tears during his discharge from Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center on Saturday. Payne was going home after recovering from injuries he suffered when responding to the ambush of fellow Officers Phillip Wagner and Peter Gale on Wednesday. Wagner, 35, died of his injuries at MetroHealth Medical Center on Thursday; Gale was treated at Mercy Health - Lorain and released. Payne, who was the first officer to come to Wagner and Gale's aide, was flown to MetroHealth in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the arm and leg. Payne was in surgery for several hours, according to Acting Police Chief Michael Failing. On Saturday, he was met by two rows of fellow officers from departments across the area clapping him out of the hospital. Officers then formed a motorcade dozens of vehicles long to escort Payne back to his Sheffield Lake home. "I would like to thank the dedicated professionals of MetroHealth for all their hard work," Failing said. "We are truly grateful. We wish Brent a speedy recovery with his family." In a news release announcing Payne's discharge from the hospital, Lorain police Capt. Jacob Morris said Payne will continue his recovery surrounded by family and friends. "While the road to healing will be long, we are grateful and proud to report that this hero is now in the comfort of his home," Morris said. Payne, Wagner and Gale were shot during an ambush on Wednesday afternoon at the Colorado Avenue Industrial Park. Lone gunman Michael Parker, 28, of Lorain, opened fire on Wagner and Gale, who had stopped to have lunch in the secluded area on the city's east side. A catalog of firearms, including rifles, handguns, ammunition and two 50-pound Tannerite bombs were found in Parker's vehicle. Scanner traffic told of a chaotic scene and initial confusion surrounding the number of gunmen in the area. Fellow officers transported Payne, Gale and Wagner from the area to Mercy Health - Lorain in the back of responding squad cars. From there, Payne and Wagner were flown to MetroHealth Medical Center for further treatment. Payne was hired by Lorain police in 2017, prior to that he worked for the Grafton Village Police Department. He has received myriad accolades during his tenure in law enforcement, including two lifesaving awards, one from Grafton police in 2016 and one from Lorain police in 2020. Earlier on Saturday, prior to his release from the hospital, Payne's oldest daughter, Abbie, had orchestrated a spaghetti dinner at the London Aire Tavern in Parma to raise money for her own family as well as those of Officers Gale and Wagner. Abbie Payne said that people from all across the area had come to the event to support the cause, and that such support had been critical for her family and the Lorain police community. "It means a lot, just the small messages and the small gestures, like coming in (to the fundraiser) even just for small hugs and to say I'm sorry," she said. "It is very, very supportive, this overwhelming support even from people you don't even know." The Lorain community continued to rally around its police department this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, Rockin' on the River donated proceeds from its two concerts to the Lorain Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3. The longstanding concert series, alongside a $10,000 donation from LorMet Community Federal Credit Union, a $1,000 donation from original Rockin' on the River promoters Bob and Sandy Earley, and tips from Main Street Lorain's beer tent saw more than $21,000 collected on Friday alone. "It's a beautiful thing when live music can bring people together, it is even more incredible and amazing when you can use that spirit to do good," Lorain Port and Finance Authority Director of Operations Tom Brown said in a Facebook post announcing Friday's donation totals. Police Capt. Jacob Morris thanked everyone for their support, calling the national outpouring "inspiring." "While we are not out of the woods yet, your unwavering support has given us the strength and determination to move forward with the wind at our backs," Morris said. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com. Contact Owen MacMillan at omacmillan@chroniclet.com.