TOLEDO, Ohio — At a news conference at One Government Center in downtown Toledo Wednesday afternoon, Police Chief George Kral shared new details about Officer Brandon Stalker, the suspect Christopher Harris, and all of the events that led to both of their deaths.​

What You Need To Know

  • Officer Brandon Stalker was killed in the line of duty during an armed standoff on MLK Day

  • The 24-year-old leaves behind a fiancé and two young children: a 7 year old and three-month old

  • The suspect, 27-year-old Christopher Harris, was shot and died from his injuries

  • Toledo Police say nine rounds were fired from Christopher Harris’ two firearms, and 19 rounds were fired by five experienced Toledo Police SWAT officers in response
  • Chief George Kral says one shot killed Officer Brandon Stalker and five hit a police vehicle
Graphic dash cam video captured the tragedy.

Toledo Police said nine rounds were fired from Christopher Harris’ two firearms, and 19 rounds were fired by five experienced Toledo Police SWAT officers in response.

Spectrum News has learned that Harris legally owned those two firearms.

Kral said one shot killed Officer Brandon Stalker, who was securing the perimeter of the scene, and five shots hit a police vehicle.

“There was an officer standing there (behind the armored personnel carrier). Officer Brian Jackson was standing behind that. If that hatch was not there we would be burying two police officers on Tuesday," said Kral.

Officer Stalker protected and served in Toledo for two and a half years.

He leaves behind a fiancé and two young children: a 7 year old and three-month old.

The 24-year-old graduated from Whitmer High School in Toledo in 2015.

He and his family have deep roots in the Washington Local Schools (WLS) District in West Toledo.


WLS confirms his mother works for the district and some of his family members currently attend Whitmer High School.

Stalker played baseball in high school and he later coached.

On Twitter, Whitmer Baseball wrote “Words cannot express the sadness felt with loss of former Whitmer player and coach Officer Brandon “O.J.” Stalker.”

The Lucas County Coroner said Officer Stalker's cause of death is a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

The department is reeling.

“And they’re hurting and they’re numb, but they’re coming and they’re doing their job and they’re protecting our residents, and I couldn’t be prouder of them and how they’re behaving and how they’re handling this,” said Kral.

This all began on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Toledo Police said arrest warrants were issued for Harris in relation to the arson, vandalism, and racial, religious, or ethnic intimidation crimes at the Rosary Cathedral.

“He had vandalized other properties recently with sayings consistent with what was found at the church and has also been known to be standing at Bancroft and Ashland holding a sign that stated, 'Jesus is Black.'

Kral said the 27-year-old had several open warrants for various crimes and a conviction for drug abuse in 2014. Police also showed troubling social media posts written by Harris.

“Particularly important: 'Don’t worry, I’m not going to go to jail. They’re going to have to kill me,'" read Kral.

Harris’ family says he struggled with mental illness and they encouraged him to get help.

“Chris was a good kid. I know that officer was a good kid. He was just new on the force doing his duty. He wasn’t supposed to die that night. My boy wasn’t supposed to die that night," said Crystal Harris, Harris' mother.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said his feelings of heartbreak and sadness are turning to anger.

“How can a person whose family believes to be suffering from a mental illness, how could that person obtain two legally registered handguns?” said Kapszukiewicz.

Officer Stalker marks the 32nd Toledo Police officer killed in the line of duty.

It was only about six months ago when another officer, Anthony Dia, was shot and killed.

“I think it’s a combination of COVID-19. I think it’s a combination of too many guns. It’s a combination of no criminal trials for the past 15 months. We’re not putting criminals in jail, because of understandably, I don’t want to make judges mad at me, but there has to be a time where we start holding suspects who we are arresting for violent crimes. We have to take them to trial and put them in jail. It’s a combination and quite honestly there’s a lot of people out there who just don’t have respect for the police anymore and think they can act with impunity,” said Kral.

In honor of Officer Stalker, Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags in Lucas County and at the Statehouse be flown at half staff until he is laid to rest.

Toledo Police said Stalker’s funeral will be on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at The University of Toledo.

That’s the same location where Officer Dia’s funeral took place in July. Stalker and Dia were classmates.

Here are some ways to give to Officer Stalker's family: