The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Statement released following stabbing, shooting
The family of Lorrie Osborne-Hirko said in a statement that health issues may have impacted Tom Hirko’s behavior on the day he stabbed his wife and pulled an airsoft pistol on Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies, one of whom then fatally shot him.
In t he st atement, relea sed through MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, the family said the “tragic events that transpired on Feb. 4 have left our family without words to adequately describe all the emotions and feelings we have.”
“Tom Hirko was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many. It is impossible to truly understand or explain the reasons behind his recent actions. But we believe that Tom’s health issues, and his ongoing battle against cancer, may have impacted his behavior. We have needed time, and continue to try to process what has happened,” the statement read.
On Feb. 4 shortly after 10 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from 55-year-old Lorrie Osborne-Hirko that she had just been stabbed by her husband, the 54-year-old Hirko.
The victim told the dispatcher
she had been stabbed multiple times and needed rescue.
Deputies were immediately dispatched to the residence at 2925 River Road. When they arrived on the scene at around 10:15 p.m., they were confronted by a man with a gun outside of the residence. One of the deputies repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon, which he failed to do. When the man raised it toward the deputy, the deputy fired his weapon, striking the man.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office released photos of the airsoft pistol, a Daisy Powerline 415 BB Gun, used by Hirko to the media Feb. 9.
“While most people trust that BB guns and toy guns are clearly differentiated by the presence of an orange tip to clearly identify them as such, the reality is that look-alike weapons, too numerous to count without such orange tip identification, are being carried and used for various purposes throughout our state,” Sheriff Daniel Dunlap said in a news release.
Osborne-Hirko was first transported to TriPoint Med-
ical Center in Concord Township before being transported by emergency helicopter to MetroHealth because of stab wounds to her back and chest.
“Lorrie Osborne-Hirko is recovering physically from her wounds, and is mentally healing through prayer and the comfort of her family and friends,” the family said in the statement. “We ask for your continued support and prayers. Please respect our privacy as we move forward during this difficult time.”