911 caller in Westerville: 'Please help, please help' and 'my daughter is in there'

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A woman crying in the background of a disconnected 911 call set in motion a string of events Saturday that ended with two veteran Westerville Police Department officers dead and a suspect hospitalized.

Today, Ohioans are mourning Officers Anthony Morelli, 54, and Eric Joering, 39. Westerville's police chief called them "true American heroes."

Morelli and Joering arrived at a residence on Crosswind Drive at 12:10 p.m. and were "immediately met with gunfire," Westerville police Chief Joe Morbitzer said at news conference Saturday.

More:Westerville home where two officers killed had history of police calls

More:Westerville police shootings: What we know now

More:Records: Westerville shooting suspect Quentin Smith illegally possessed gun 

The officers walked into a "potential domestic" violence situation, authorities said.

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.

A female voice can be heard crying in a 911 call to dispatchers before the caller disconnects. In subsequent calls with dispatchers, the woman identified Quentin Smith as the man who shot at the officers.

The caller says, "please help, please help" and "my husband shot the police officers" and "my daughter is in there."

The dispatcher then asks the woman where she is and she replies she is hiding in the bushes.

In radio traffic, officers who entered the residence said they found the child on a couch and had a suspect at gunpoint.

Police confirmed to the Associated Press that Smith, 30, is the suspect in the shooting. Many details remain unknown publicly about how the events transpired. Police did say the suspect had injuries and was transported from the scene.

The Crosswind Drive home where the officers were called Saturday had a recent history of domestic violence and disturbances, records show. 

Westerville police had been called as recently as three weeks ago for a reported disturbance. The home's residents, however, told police at the time there was nothing wrong.

Smith was identified as one of the parties during previous calls to the residence.

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

"True American heroes," Morbitzer said. "We will miss both of these officers because they were pillars in our department."

Between sobs, the chief said they both "lived and breathed" the profession.

"They knew how to do policing the right way, both of them," Morbitzer said.

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.

Police are investigating the scene. Residents came to the scene to deliver water and coffee to the officers there.

Westerville sits about 16 miles north of Downtown Columbus.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is a Westerville native. On Saturday, he pledged the full support of the Ohio State 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."

Sen. Sherrod Brown said "we are grateful to all Ohio law enforcement who put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe." President Donald Trump also tweeted that his thoughts and prayers are with the officers.

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.

As of 12 p.m. Sunday, the GoFundMe had raised more than $140,000.

“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."