Morrow County Deputy Killed in Line of Duty: What We Know, Ongoing Investigation & Community Mourning

A Morrow County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot and killed Monday evening while responding to a domestic disturbance on County Road 26 in Marengo, about 40 miles north of Columbus. According to Sheriff John Hinton, gunfire erupted moments after the deputy arrived at the residence shortly before 8 p.m.. The deputy was struck, rushed to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. The suspect was also hit during the exchange and remains hospitalized in serious condition. Neither the deputy’s name nor the suspect’s identity has been released, pending family notification and the ongoing inquiry. “There are no words to express the pain being felt by our office,” the sheriff’s statement read, noting that Memorial Day turned tragic for local law-enforcement families and the tight-knit rural community. Flags at county buildings were lowered to half-staff overnight, and black mourning bands now drape deputy badges across the region. Investigative Oversight • The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is leading the external investigation, assisted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, to ensure an independent review of the officer-involved shooting. • Detectives spent the night processing the scene, interviewing neighbors and collecting body-camera footage. A formal press briefing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Morrow County Justice Center. Community Impact Marengo, home to roughly 350 residents, has not recorded a line-of-duty death in decades. Local churches announced candlelight vigils, and Back the Blue banners appeared along U.S. Route 42 within hours of the news. The county’s Fraternal Order of Police lodge set up a verified donation fund to help the deputy’s family with funeral expenses and long-term support. Domestic-disturbance calls are among the most unpredictable and dangerous situations officers face; national data consistently show they account for a disproportionate share of law-enforcement fatalities. Monday’s violence highlights the elevated risks rural deputies encounter when backup can be miles away. What Happens Next • Autopsy results from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office will determine the exact cause of death and timeline of injuries. • The suspect, once medically stable, is expected to face charges ranging from aggravated murder to felonious assault on a peace officer. • Statewide agencies plan to honor the fallen deputy during Police Week events at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy later this spring. Anyone with additional information, doorbell-camera footage or eyewitness accounts is urged to contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s tip line at 740-833-2800. This story will be updated as new details emerge from investigators and county officials.