Elyria police officer shot and killed

ELYRIA, Ohio - A 15-year veteran of the Elyria Police Department was shot and killed Monday, while responding to a 911 call.

Police said Patrolman James Kerstetter was checking out a neighbor disturbance at a resident on 13th Street. After entering the home, Kerstetter was shot at by the resident, Ronald Palmer.

When other officers arrived, they shot and killed the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kerstetter was taken to Elyria Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"They went in and picked up the officer and started life support, put him on a gurney and got him to the hospital as quickly as they could, but unfortunately it was too late," Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely said.

To hear more from the Elyria police chief, click here for raw video posted on our Facebook page , where you can also leave condolences for patrolman James Kerstetter's friends and family.

Kerstetter is the first Elyria police officer to be killed in the line of duty in 67 years. He is survived by his wife Tammy and his three daughters Misty, 17, Shelby, 14, and Brittany, 8.

A fund will be set up at First Merit Bank in the name of James A. Kerstetter donations can be made at any First Merit Bank.

The family visitation, which is open to the public, will be Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Lorain County Community College, followed by the burial at Rest Haven Memory Gardens Cemetery in Avon.

WEB EXTRA: click on the play button below to listen to radio traffic recorded by radioreference.com of the incident. WARNING : this clip reveals the officer's call for help and might be too sensitive for some people to hear.