A St. Clair Township police officer is out of surgery and in stable condition following an officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon that claimed the life of a male suspect, as well as a four-year-old girl.

A dispatcher for the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP) in Columbiana County told 21 News troopers are responding to assist with an officer-involved shooting near a Huntington Bank on St. Clair Avenue in St. Clair Township.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) told 21 News they were investigating an "officer-involved critical" incident involving the St. Clair Township Police Department.

A media release from the St. Clair Township Police said officers were called about a possibly suicidal male. 

Officers began to approach the suspect when he opened fire. Officers return fire striking the man.

A St. Clair Township Sargeant police officer told 21 News that a four-year-old girl was shot in the head while in the dentist office directly east of where officers confronted the suspect. 

The Sargeant also said the police officer was also struck by a bullet to the head. As of 8:30 p.m. police say he is out of surgery and is now in stable condition.

In a video posted to the St. Clair Township Police Department's Facebook page, Chief Brian McKenzie thanked the community for its continued prayers for both the officer and the child.

According to a post on the St. Clair Township Police Department's Facebook page, the four-year-old girl has died of her injuries. Her identity is not being released at this time.

One eyewitness told 21 News he saw the suspect get shot multiple times. Police say the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Joseph Como has died.

According to court records, Como had an active warrant out of Wellsville for a domestic violence charge. Court records show the warrant was issued December 30 of 2024.

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has offered its sympathies to the family of the officer, as well as the child and is accepting tax deductible donations for the victims and their families.

You can donate by clicking here.

A statement from Huntington Bank says the bank immediately established safety protocols once staff was made aware of the shooting. Everyone inside the bank is accounted for and no one in the bank was hurt.

21 News reporter Sydney Canty stated she saw approximately 24 evidence markers on the ground at the scene. 

Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin says a medical helicopter has been called for all three individuals who were shot, but there are no specifics on anyone's conditions at this time.

The officer who was shot was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition. The condition of the child struck by a bullet in unknown, but the child was flown to a hospital.

“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.”

The media release said officers began first aid on the suspect but first condition is currently unknown.

According to a Facebook post from the Calcutta Fire Department St. Clair Avenue is closed from McGuffey Drive to SR-170 until further notice as a result of the incident.

21 News has a crew on scene gathering more information. Stay connected online and on air for the latest updates on this breaking news story.