Authorities in Ohio have released a transcript of conversations between dispatchers and the wife of a man accused of fatally shooting two officers in an ambush on Saturday.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, a dropped 911 call prompted two Westerville officers to respond to the home of Quentin Smith, the 30-year-old suspect.
When 39-year-old Eric Joering and 54-year-old Anthony Morelli arrived at the apartment they were reportedly shot almost immediately. Both died from their injuries.
Smith was transported to an area hospital from the scene to be treated for injuries he sustained when an officer returned fire, according to police.
Additional information was revealed Sunday when calls Smith’s wife allegedly made to police dispatchers the previous day were made public, according to Cincinnati.com.
In the initial call, a woman could reportedly be heard crying shortly before the connection was cut. After the officers arrived, calls from the woman continued as she pleaded for someone to help her daughter.
Reports indicate she told dispatchers in one call that her “husband shot the police officers,” asking someone to “please help” because her “daughter is in there.”
The caller allegedly revealed that she was hiding outside of the home in the bushes during the violent incident.
According to a statement from Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, the suspect will possibly face capital punishment if convicted.
“It would be a death penalty case,” he said.
Reports Sunday regarding his whereabouts were unclear, as records indicated he had not been booked into jail and two area hospitals did not confirm he was a patient.
An online fundraiser has been established to assist the families of both Joering and Morelli. As of this writing, it had reached nearly $200,000 of its $250,000 goal.
[Featured image: Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli/GoFundMe]