Brandon Fazekas

Mass Murderer

Brandon Fazekas and the 2026 Rittman Shooting

Overview of the Case

Brandon Fazekas was identified by authorities as the suspected gunman responsible for a deadly shooting in Rittman, Ohio, on July 5, 2026. The violence left three victims dead, including a mother, her 13-year-old daughter and a veteran Rittman police sergeant. Four additional law-enforcement officers were wounded, and a police dog was seriously injured during the response. The shooting occurred at a residence in the 90 block of Chippewa Trail, a residential neighborhood in Rittman, a small community in Wayne County. Fazekas, who was 38 years old, was found dead inside the house after the gunfire ended. The Wayne County Coroner's Office reported that his wound was consistent with suicide. Because Fazekas died at the scene, he was never arrested, formally charged or brought to trial. Authorities continued investigating the shooting to establish the exact sequence of events, determine a motive and document the circumstances surrounding each death and injury.

The Initial Killings

The first known victims were Christine McWilliams, 43, and her daughter, McKinley McWilliams, 13. Christine was described by authorities as Fazekas's former partner. Both victims were found dead inside the Chippewa Trail residence. Publicly released information indicated that Fazekas entered or was already present at the home before police were called. A 911 report described a break-in and shots being fired. Investigators believed Christine and McKinley had been killed before officers reached the property, although the complete timeline remained part of the continuing investigation. The deaths of a mother and her young daughter transformed the residence into the scene of both a domestic-related double homicide and a later armed attack on responding officers. Authorities had not released a final explanation for what caused Fazekas to target Christine and McKinley or whether the shooting had been planned in advance.

Police Response and Ambush

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, officers were dispatched to the home after receiving the emergency report of a break-in and gunfire. The call brought members of the Rittman Police Department and other area law-enforcement agencies to Chippewa Trail. When officers approached the residence, they immediately encountered gunfire. The rapid attack placed the responding officers in a dangerous position before they could fully determine what had happened inside the home. A large emergency response followed as additional officers and members of the combined Medina and Wayne County SWAT Team arrived in the neighborhood. Rittman Police Sgt. Scott Ries was struck and fatally wounded during the exchange. Ries had served with the Rittman Police Department for approximately 10 years and had previously worked for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Sugar Grove Police Department. His killing was remembered as a line-of-duty death that deeply affected the small police department and the surrounding community. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Christine McWilliams 43 yr old Male

Who Brandon Fazekas? Suspected of killing several in Wayne County ...