James Kerstetter was killed after he was shot by a suspect, ONN's Cristin Severance reported.

"You can't train for this," said Chief Duane Whitely of the Elyria Police Department. "There's nothing you can do to get ready for this."

A woman on 18th Street called 911 and said her neighbor kicked in a window and exposed himself to her daughter.

Kerstetter responded to the call and entered Robert Palmer's home.

Police said that's when Palmer shot the officer and ran outside, Severance reported.

"Then all of a sudden I heard about five to six or more shots go pow, pow, pow," said neighbor George Price.

Palmer was killed on the scene by backup officers.

"They told Palmer to stop, stop, freeze, don't move," said neighbor Andrea McCallister. "I don't know if he was drunk of whatever, but he kind of lunged and when he did they just started shooting him."

Officer and SWAT Team member Kerstetter was pronounced dead at Elyria Memorial Hospital.

"He was killed trying to protect the people of Elyria," said McCallister. "I just, I don't know. I don't even understand what it was all for."

Detectives spent Tuesday in the neighborhood and at the home where their friend was killed.

People in Elyria left flowers throughout the day at the police department in Kerstetter's memory. Many didn't even know the father of three.

"It's not something easy to deal with," said Ashley Bailey. "I feel really terrible for his family. I konw he had a little girl, a little bit older than mine. It's hard."

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March 16, 2010: Elyria Police Officer, Suspect Killed

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