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1 day ago
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An adorable four-year-old girl was tragically killed by a stray bullet from a nearby police shootout while she sat innocently inside a dentist's office on Wednesday.
Rosalie Martin, 4, was killed in East Liverpool, Ohio after St. Clair Township Police responded to a call about a possibly suicidal man.
Officers arrived at the scene around 2 pm to find Joseph Como, 30, walking alone in the roadway.
When officers tried to have a conversation with the seemingly disturbed man, he opened fire 'almost immediately'.
They fired back - fatally striking him.
But nearby was Martin, who was with her family at the Dentistry for Children & Teens.
The little girl was struck by a bullet in the crossfire. She was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
It remains unclear whether it was Como's bullet - or one of the cops' - that killed her.
Rosalie Martin, 4, was killed in East Liverpool, Ohio after St. Clair Township Police responded to a call about a possibly suicidal man
Officers arrived at the scene in East Liverpool around 2 pm to find a seemingly disturbed man, identified as 30-year-old Joseph Como, walking alone in the roadway
It remains unclear as to who fired the bullet that fatally struck four-year-old Rosalie, however, the investigation into the officer-involved incident remains ongoing
A St. Clair Township Police officer was also wounded in the horrific shooting.
Officer Dakota Wetzel, 26, was struck in the head and was airlifted to a Pittsburgh's UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he remains in intensive care.
An update, posted later that day, said the injured officer, who has been with the department for over three years, was out of surgery and 'in stable condition,' but has 'a long way to go.'
A St. Clair Township Police officer was also wounded in the horrific shooting. Officer Dakota Wetzel, 26, was struck in the head and was airlifted to a Pittsburgh's UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he remains in intensive care
Rosalie Martin, 4, was killed in the crossfire of police shootout in East Liverpool, Ohio after St. Clair Township Police responded to a call about a possibly suicidal man on Wednesday
Wetzel's fiancée, Regan Lambert, has since shared a heartfelt message to Facebook.
'Unfortunately, I have thought about how I would have to handle this situation more times than I care to say.
'Those of you who know me know that I have quite a few law enforcement officers very near and dear to my heart. Dakota also happens to be the love of my life.'
The distraught soon-to-be wife said she and her fiancé had just mailed their wedding invitations a day earlier.
'I am forevermore indebted to God for sparing my HUSBAND - in a very short 170 days.'
The police chief asked for prayers for 'my officer, and for the child that was involved in this incident as well.'
'Everyone at the St. Clair Township Police Department continues to pray for her family after her terribly tragic passing,' McKenzie said.
Much of the surrounding community gathered for a vigil the day after the devastating loss to the mourn their fellow community member
The St. Clair Police Department has since organized a fundraiser to help cover the medical and funeral costs for those involved in the January 22 tragedy.
'The Ohio FOP Foundation continues to raise money for both Detective Wetzel and Rosalie's family. Anyone interested in donating can do so with all donations being earmarked for the families,' the police chief added.
Much of the surrounding community gathered for a vigil the day after the devastating loss to the mourn their fellow community member.
'It's just nice that everybody comes together and shares this, even though it's devastating.
'But, we can still come together as a community and be there for the families that have suffered,' said neighbor Joyce Sabatini.
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