Tragedy struck an Ohio community after a 4-year-old girl, Rosalie Martin, was sadly killed by a stray bullet on Wednesday, January 22. Martin was sitting at a dentist's office when police officers responded to a report of a suicidal man walking the street outside. When officers attempted to talk with the man, he instead fired at them, shooting an officer in the head. One of the bullets exchanged in the shootout hit Martin.
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According to a
St. Clair Township Police statement, the suicidal man, later identified as Joseph Como, opened fire at the officers "almost immediately." During the shootout, Police Detective Dakota Wetzel was shot in the head. Rosalie Martin, inside a nearby dentist's office, was hit by a stray bullet. It is unclear who took the shot that hit the 4-year-old girl. Como died of his injuries.Both Wetzel and Martin were rushed to different hospitals. Hours after the initial police report, tragically, township police confirmed that Rosalie Martin died from her injuries. Currently, Detective Wetzel is in stable condition at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
Victims
A GoFoundMe campaign was set up to help Rosalie Martin's parents during this extremely difficult time. Rosalie, referred to as "Rosie," is survived by them and by her three siblings.
"Jennifer and Jessel unfortunately, did not have any life insurance on Rosie, as they never expected to lose their precious girl at all, let alone this soon," the campaign's description reads. "If you could pray for this family, they could genuinely use that at this time."
Detective Wetzel's fiancée, Regan Lambert, shared a heartfelt message on
Facebook. There, she talked about her husband and extended her condolences to the Martin family."Unfortunately, I have thought about how I would have to handle this situation more times than I care to say," Lamber wrote. "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."
Lambert then expressed being thankful for the Ohio FOP Foundation accepting donations to help both Dakota and Rosalie. However, she had one request to make.
"I ask that for now all donations be made to Rosalie and her family," Lambert said. "Dakota has excellent insurance and we are very thankful for that. NO parent should have to bury their child, and if the donations can lighten one very small part of Rosalie's family's very undeserving load, that would be a very small relief to me."
"I am forevermore indebted to God for sparing my HUSBAND - in a very short 170 days," Lambert concluded.
A Grieving Community
St. Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie has continuously extended his condolences to Rosalie's family. He also made sure to make counselors available for other officers who were affected by this tragic incident.
"Everyone at the St. Clair Township Police Department continues to pray for her family after her terribly tragic passing," McKenzie said. "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."
Many have been moved by how the community has supported both Wetzel and Rosalie Martin. On social media, several users have responded positively to how the tragedy has been handled.
"Thanks for keeping the community calm, and for the updates. You've shown a lot of strength Brian, and we're praying for you also," one user wrote. Neighbor Joyce Sabatini said, according to the Daily Mail: "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."
