'True American heroes': Two Ohio officers killed responding to hung-up 911 call

Cameron Knight, Mallorie Sullivan and Jessie Balmert | The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two Ohio police officers were shot and killed Saturday while responding to a hung-up 911 call during a "potential domestic" violence incident, police said.

Officers Anthony Morelli, 54, and Eric Joering, 39, arrived at a Westerville, Ohio, apartment on Crosswind Drive at 12:10 p.m. and were "immediately met with gunfire," Westerville (Ohio) Police Chief Joe Morbitzer said at a news conference.

More: Texas police officer shot, killed; suspect taken into custody

Morbitzer said Joering, a 17-year police veteran, died at the scene. Morelli was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Morelli was a member of the city's bike patrol unit.

Police received the 911 call at 12:02 p.m., officials said. The caller hung up, prompting the police response to the apartment complex on the outskirts of Westerville.

Holding back tears, Morbitzer described the veteran officers as "true American heroes" and "pillars in our department."

"These officers were two of the best we had," he said. "This was their calling and they did it right. They knew how to do policing the right way — both of them." He asked that people keep the families of the officers in their prayers.

"I'm confident our staff will take them under their wings," he said.

The suspect in the shooting is in custody, officials said.

No additional information about the suspect or the incident to which police responded were immediately available.

Just before 2 p.m. Westerville officials tweeted that one officer had been killed after reports of an officer-involved shooting. About an hour later, officials sent another tweet announcing the second death.

More: Colorado shooting: Gunman who killed deputy said he was running for sheriff

"It is with a heavy heart we report a second Westerville officer has been killed in the line of duty," the tweet said.

It is with a heavy heart we report a second Westerville officer has been killed in the line of duty. We will share more details here as it becomes available. — City of Westerville (@tellwesterville) February 10, 2018

Westerville sits about 16 miles north of downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is a Westerville native. On Saturday, he pledged the full support of the Ohio Highway Patrol if it is needed.

"I am very saddened to learn of the deaths of two of my hometown police officers today," Kasich tweeted. "We will learn more soon about this tragic incident but please join me in lifting up these officers' families in prayer."

My thoughts and prayers are with the two police officers, their families, and everybody at the @WestervillePD. https://t.co/AoingY77Ky — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2018

President Trump also offered his prayers for the department and fallen officers.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the two police officers, their families, and everybody at the @WestervillePD," he posted to Twitter.

The Westerville Police Department is in our thoughts & prayers for the loss of their officers. https://t.co/ZtG6qxMzfn — Cincinnati Police (@CincyPD) February 10, 2018

Jay McDonald, president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, announced a GoFundMe campaign has already been launched to assist the families of the officers at GoFundMe.com/FOPLodge9HelpFund.

“This is just another grim reminder that police work has the potential for deadly danger every day," McDonald said. "That’s why the Fraternal Order of Police works to build continuous public support for the men and women who risk everything so others can be safe. Please remember these officers – and all officers – in your prayers."

Contributing: Christal Hayes, USA TODAY. Follow Cameron Knight, Mallorie Sullivan and Jessie Balmert on Twitter: @ckpj99, @malloriesullivn and @jbalmert