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Ohio shootout leaves 4-year-old girl and suspect dead, officer injured

Shootout in Ohio injures officer, suspect and 4-year-old
Shootout in Ohio injures officer, suspect and 4-year-old 00:33

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP, Ohio (KDKA) — Police shot and killed a man who opened fire on officers in a shootout that also left a 4-year-old girl dead and an officer injured in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border, authorities said.  

St. Clair Township police said they were called Wednesday afternoon about "a possibly suicidal man." When officers found 30-year-old Joseph Como on the street and tried to talk to him, police said he "almost immediately" opened fire. 

Police said they returned fire, hitting Como. St. Clair Township detective Dakota Wetzel was shot in the head and a 4-year-old girl at a nearby dentist's office was also hit by a stray bullet, police said. 

kdka st clair township shooting
(Photo: KDKA)

The child, identified by police as Rosalie Martin, was flown to a hospital but later died. 

Ohio Fraternal Order of Police President Jay McDonald said the whole situation was unsettling.

"That tragedy took place, and there is a family of a young child who is grieving," McDonald said.

Wetzel was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in critical condition. Wetzel got out of surgery and was able to open his eyes and give a thumbs up to his family. The St. Clair Police chief and several officers are in Oakland as Wetzel recovers in the ICU.  

"It's a miracle that he survived the initial incident. It's a miracle in my opinion that he made it to the hospital," McDonald said.

Police said officers gave first aid to Como, but he also later died.   

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(Photos: Provided)

St. Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie said he called in the Ohio Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation. 

What's not clear at this point is who fired the bullet that killed Martin. 

St. Clair Township is about an hour from Pittsburgh. 

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