MIDDLEFIELD - The officers involved in the shooting Sunday night have been identified as Brandon Savage and Erin Thomas.
Thomas completing her field training program when the incident occurred with Savage as her trainer.
The two officers were injured when they pulled a lone male over around 6 p.m. near North State Avenue and Tare Creek around 6 p.m. The man initiated the shooting, attempting to kill the officers with a semi-automatic rifle (AK-47) as he exited the vehicle. He died from gunshot wounds at the scene, as the officers returned fire.
Thomas sustained serious gunshot injuries to her left hand fingers. Shrapnel was embedded in her right wrist, and she received a gunshot wound to her left thigh. She was transported by helicopter to Metro Hospital in Cleveland where she underwent surgery to repair her injuries. Thomas remains hospitalized and is expected to be released in the next day or so, according to the Middlefield Police Department.
Savage sustained minor injuries to his left knee from flying fragments. He was treated and released from University Hospital in Geauga and is at home recovering.
Both officers have more than five years of experience in the field. Savage has served with the Middlefield police for the past five years as the departmental field training officer and defensive tactics instructor. He has received specialized training in active shooter responses. Thomas was hired with Middlefield in February.
The investigation is being conducted by the Geauga County Sheriff's Office and Ohio BCI is processing the shooting scene.