Services for Lorain police officer killed in line of duty are Wednesday
Procession will travel from funeral home in North Ridgeville to Rocket Arena in Cleveland
LORAIN — Funeral services for Lorain police officer Phillip Corbet Wagner will be Wednesday (July 30) at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Wagner, a U.S. Marine veteran and 35-year-old father of three, died Thursday surrounded by his family and fellow officers at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland a day after he suffered massive injuries in an ambush by a heavily armed man who opened fired when Wagner and another officer were on a lunch break.
Services begin at 11 a.m. with the general public arriving at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court, in Cleveland. Intersections along the procession route will be temporarily closed to ensure the procession stays together, the North Ridgeville police announced.
Tributes continue in reaction to Wagner and fellow officers Pete Gale, 51, and Brent Payne, 47, being ambushed. Payne was also flown to MetroHealth Medical Center after getting shot. He was released on Saturday. Gale also was shot, suffering an injury to his hand.
The gunman was killed at the scene but it’s not yet been determined if he was killed by return fire or if he shot himself. The man had an arsenal of weapons — including two high-powered automatic rifles, police said. The three injured officers are being credited with preventing others from being harmed.
“Many of you may not know the details, but Phillip and his partner were simply stopping for lunch when tragedy struck,” a family friend of Wagner’s posted at his business’ Facebook page.
“A man armed with over 30 firearms intended to hurt as many innocent people as possible at a local park, a place where families walk, children play, and people go to find peace. But because Phillip and his partner were there — because they were doing what they always did, protecting their community — countless lives were saved.”
Traffic alert and procession Information
This Wednesday, July 30, 2025, a funeral procession honoring Officer Phillip Wagner will begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. at Liston Funeral Home in North Ridgeville and travel to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Downtown Cleveland.
The route is:
Eastbound on Center Ridge Road
South on Lear Nagle Road
East on Lorain Road
Eastbound on I-480
Traffic along the route will be maintained; however, intersections will be temporarily closed as the procession passes to ensure safety and respect for the fallen officer. Center Ridge Road from Stoney Ridge Road to Maddock Road will be closed beginning at approximately 6:30 a.m. to allow vehicles to stage for the procession.
Source: North Ridgeville police
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