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4-year-old girl, suspect die after shooting near bank in Columbiana County, Ohio; officer injured

COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio — Two people died and a police officer was injured in an officer-involved shooting in Columbiana County, Ohio near the Pennsylvania state border Wednesday.

The St. Clair Township Police Department said officers were called about a possibly suicidal man shortly after 2 p.m. When officers found the man walking down the street and tried to talk to him, he almost immediately started shooting. Officers returned fire and hit the suspect.

An officer was shot in the head, police said. A 4-year-old child was also shot while at a nearby local business.

NBC affiliate WFMJ reports the girl was also shot in the head.

St. Clair Township police said the officer was responsive after the shooting but was flown to a Pittsburgh-area hospital in critical condition. He was taken into surgery and is now on the road to recovery. The girl was also flown to a hospital but later died. The suspect, Joseph Como, 30, also died from his injuries.

“We’re trying to gather information as fast as we can so we can update the community,” St. Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie said. “Right now, we need the community to pray for our officer and the child who were shot.”

Chief McKenzie has also made counselors available to his officers to help them through this situation.

Click here to donate to support to officer and the family of the child.

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