Holly MatkinHarmony Township, OH – A veteran deputy of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was murdered in the line of duty while responding to a report that a woman had broken into a home and opened fire on the occupants late Sunday morning.
The incident occurred at a mobile home located in the Harmony Estates Mobile Home Park in the 1100-block of Ashwood Drive, Clark County Sheriff Deborah Burchett told reporters during an emotional press conference later in the day, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Deputies responded to the home after someone called 911 at 10:51 a.m. to report that an unknown female had broken into the house and fired five or six rounds at the people inside.
As deputies attempted to enter the home, “they were met with gunfire,” Sheriff Burchett said.
CCSO Deputy Matthew Yates, a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was shot during the attack.
The wounded hero remained trapped inside the home for hours during an ensuing standoff with the suspect, the Dayton Daily News reported.
Sheriff Burchett told reporters that multiple tactical teams, including the Clark County Special Operations that Team Deputy Yates was a member of, responded to the scene to rescue him from the home.
The teams were eventually able to reach Deputy Yates and loaded him into an armored vehicle at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Dayton Daily News reported.
He was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At some point during the standoff, the mobile home caught on fire and was ultimately destroyed, the Dayton Daily News reported.
The identity of the shooter was not immediately released and it wasn’t known whether police had taken anyone into custody in connection with the incident.
Investigators did not release further details about what occurred, but family members of the unidentified man who lived at the mobile home said the man had mental health issues and that another family member had gone to the house to check on him that day, the Dayton Daily News reported.
The family members said the male resident shot the female relative, then killed two more people during the incident.
The family identified the gunman as Cole Matthew White and said they believe he was killed during the standoff, but investigators did not immediately confirm that information, the Dayton Daily News reported.
A second deputy injured his leg while trying to escape the gunfire.
Officials said the second deputy was not shot and that he is expected to recover, the Dayton Daily News reported.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is handling the ongoing investigation, the Dayton Daily News reported.
Sheriff Burchett did not release further details.
She asked the community to pray for Deputy Yates’ family and for the CCSO, according to FOX News.
Dozens of law enforcement and first responder vehicles lined the Miami Valley area on Sunday night as a procession of law enforcement officers headed to the hospital, the Dayton Daily News reported.
Deputy Matthew Yates, a 15-year-veteran of the Clark County Sheriff's Office, was shot and killed Sunday.
The men and women of the Marion Police Department join the Clark County community in mourning the loss of a hero. May his sacrifice never be forgotten! pic.twitter.com/tiJqaFFzNT— Marion Police (@marion_police) July 25, 2022
An emotional and tearful Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett just said in a brief statement that one of her deputies, Deputy Matthew Yates was shot and killed earlier today. Sheriff Burchett said Yates was a 15-year veteran of the Clark Co. SO. @whiotv @WHIORadio pic.twitter.com/hZ6BGypLjD
— John Bedell (@JBedellWHIO) July 25, 2022
@OhioBCI now on scene in Harmony Estates where a Clark County Deputy was shot and ultimately died from his wounds. @dayton247now pic.twitter.com/lJC3Ag6kAJ
— Elyse Coulter (@Elyse247Now) July 25, 2022
RIGHT NOW: Still an active scene in Harmony Estates Mobile Home Park in Clark County. A memorial now sits outside the burned down trailer where Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Yates was shot. @dayton247now pic.twitter.com/g6yzYGC5Ak
— Elyse Coulter (@Elyse247Now) July 25, 2022
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