Ohio cop fatally shot responding to 911 call

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) — A police officer in northeast Ohio has been fatally shot after responding to a 911 call from a woman who said a neighbor exposed himself to her child and kicked in a window.

Elyria patrolman James Kerstetter was killed Monday night. The suspect also was fatally shot. His name has not been released, but a family member identified him as 58-year-old Ronald Palmer.

Police Chief Duane Whitely says gunfire was exchanged inside the man’s home, and more shots were fired outside. He says other officers tried to treat the wounded patrolman, who was taken to EMH Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead.

Whitely says Kerstetter was on the force about 15 years and was a sheriff’s deputy before that.

The investigation has been turned over to the Lorain County Sheriff’s office. A sheriff’s deputy said early today she could not give any information on the case.