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Who was Brandon Stalker? Ohio police officer, 24, shot dead during SWAT standoff with armed suspect

Officer Brandon Stalker, 24, who was on perimeter security, was struck by a single bullet. He was rushed to a hospital and later died. Stalker was hired by the Toledo Police Department in July 2018

TOLEDO, OHIO: An Ohio police officer was shot dead after a standoff on Monday, January 18, evening. Officers in Toledo, Ohio, spotted a suspect in the 2200 block of Fulton Street. Arrest warrants were out for the suspect who was known for vandalizing a historic cathedral earlier on Monday.

According to the Toledo Police Department, officers approached the suspect but he pulled out a firearm and went inside a home. Authorities set up a blockade around the home and called for a SWAT team to respond to the scene. Negotiators tried to get the man to come out of the home for hours but were not successful. The SWAT team initiated gas and the suspect came out of the home with two firearms, police said. The suspect then started shooting, police said.

Officer Brandon Stalker, 24, who was on perimeter security, was struck by a single bullet. He was rushed to a Toledo hospital and later died. Stalker was hired by the Toledo Police Department in July 2018.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tweeted a message of condolences to Stalker's family and the Toledo Police Department Monday evening. He also ordered all US and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings in Lucas County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Riffe Center and Rhodes tower in Columbus until sunset on the day of Stalker's funeral.

"Fran and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of @ToledoPolice Officer Brandon Stalker. He is the second Toledo officer killed in the line of duty in less than a year. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, Chief @gkraltoledo, and everyone at the Toledo Police Dept," Mike DeWine tweeted.

He further said, "In honor of Officer Stalker's life and service, I have ordered that all US and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds in Lucas County and at the @OhioStatehouse, Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower in Columbus until sunset on the day of his funeral."

Toledo police tweeted: "We are devastated to confirm the Line of Duty Death of #toledopolice officer Brandon Stalker. Officer Stalker joined Toledo Police in 2018 and is survived by loving family, both blood and blue. More information will be made available as soon as possible."

NBC reporter Chad Hedrick said in a tweet: "Toledo Police Officer Brandon Stalker was shot and killed Monday evening while responding to a standoff. He was 24 years old and leaves behind a fiancé and a young child."