HILLSBORO, Ohio —

An officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is being remembered for his strong work ethic and passion for the job.

Jason Lagore died Tuesday night of an apparent heart attack while responding to a rescue at Rocky Point Lake in Highland County.

"He assisted on countless, countless search and rescues, bringing closure to families and also finding people and being able to help them," said LaGore's friend, Shaun Lentini.

Tuesday night, LaGore was trying to help a teenager who fell into icy water.

Around 6:30 p.m., a 13-year-old boy started screaming for help near a private dock. A nearby contractor heard his cry and called 911.

"I'm at Rocky Fork. I had some little kid come up to me and said his sister's in the water dead," the caller said. "He come running up to us saying, 'Somebody please help me, please help me.'"

The Paint Creek Joint Fire District responded to the scene.

"By the time our crews got there, she was under the ice," said Lt. Branden Jackman.

Jackman said they called in additional units from Hamilton and Franklin counties to help.

"The water was 36 degrees. Ya know, you look at water and think, 'It's just water.' A 36-degree water is no different than a three-story house fire. They'll both kill you just as quick," Jackman said.

The 16-year-old's body was recovered about four-and-a-half hours later. The coroner said she drowned. He is waiting until all of her family members are notified before he releases her name.

Sometime during the rescue-recovery mission, LaGore fell in the water after suffering a medical emergency. First responders tried to save him. He died at the hospital. The Highland County Coroner said preliminary results indicate LaGore had a heart attack.

"It affects us all. We all feel it because we're all family," Jackman said.

Lentini said LaGore had a big heart and big vision. He said LaGore began the K9 program for the division of parks and watercraft at ODNR and has since led the first K9 academy. He had worked for ODNR for the past 15 years.

"He was well respected. He did a lot of training around all of Ohio. He worked with a lot of organizations with search and rescue," Lentini said. "When he wasn't working, he loved hunting. He was a guy that I went over his house for dinner and he'd send me home with some deer."

Lentini said LaGore was a big family man. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, two small sons and his K9 partner, Sarge.

The FOP Lodge 149 has started a fundraiser for LaGore's family. More information can be found here:

https://www.unit2.org/jasonlagorek9

CINCINNATI —

Family members are pushing for justice and remembering the lives of a West End mother and her unborn baby girl.

They said the man who killed them was supposed to protect them.

Now, they want to make sure he pays.

They said they are glad there was a quick arrest in the case.

Beyond wanting to know why they were killed, they also want to make sure justice is served.

"It's hard to lose person, but to lose two and a baby," Michelle Sanchez said.

A heartbreaking reality has devastated Sanchez.

Her 31-year-old daughter, Michelle "Shelly" McDonald, is dead, as is her unborn baby granddaughter.

"I just feel so much pain that I just don't feel like it's going to ever going to end," Sanchez said.

Family gathered to remember them on Sunday.

They said Antonio Wilcox dated McDonald and was the baby's father.

Police said he shot them in West Price Hill on Friday killing them.

Loved ones told WLWT that McDonald's 4-year-old daughter witnessed the shooting.

Neighbors said Wilcox has threatened to kill McDonald before, but no charges could be found to reflect that.

"Just a horrible person that they can do something like that to a mother and child, and to his own child," McDonald's cousin, Dorothea Young, said.

Since 2004, Wilcox's criminal history shows convictions for obstructing official business, possessing cocaine, disorderly conduct and having weapons under disability.

A court document from 2009 shows Wilcox threatened his child's mother with a gun and then discharged it. A second document shows he fired a gun on the front porch of a home.

It also shows he was charged with domestic violence and endangering children, but those charges were dismissed in 2010.

In June, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters took issue with how county courts handle dangerous, repeat offenders.

"She can call a bond hearing in an hour and she can explain to the people of Hamilton County why this little punk is walking our streets," he said.

Deters said there will be no plea bargains on cases involving gun violence.

McDonald's family hopes that means justice is coming.

"Not only did we lose our cousin, but this young man, he's gone for the rest of his life. He ain't going to see the light of day. We're going to make sure of that," McDonald's cousin, Adrian Blasingame, said.

Wilcox should not have had a gun based on his history.

Deters talked with WLWT on Sunday and said McDonald's family does not have to worry. He said it is a tragic loss of life and they will deliver justice to their family.

The family has launched a GoFundMe account to help with expenses:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-michelle-mcdonald.

AURORA, Colo. — An Aurora police officer who was demoted and suspended for wrongfully detaining a Black family and holding children at gunpoint last summer wants to become the next sheriff of Las Animas County.

Darian Dasko submitted his application to run as a Republican for the Las Animas County Sheriff's seat on July 1. He is the first candidate to submit his application for the 2022 election.

Las Animas County, located about a four-hour drive from the Denver suburb of Aurora, is home to 14,000 people.

In August of 2020, Dasko pulled over a Black family in an SUV they believed was stolen after running the license plates. Officers pointed their guns at the family inside the SUV and ordered them out.

The driver, Brittney Gilliam, and four children, aged 6, 12, 14 and 17, were placed face-down on hot pavement in an Aurora parking lot. Officers handcuffed the 12-year-old and the 17-year-old.

Police later determined that the SUV had not been stolen.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson both condemned Dasko's actions.

"It's uncalled for, it shouldn't have happened, and I wish we can take it back," Wilson said after reviewing the video of the detainment.

Dr. Thomas Mayes, the vice president of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, called on Coffman to fire Dasko.

"It angers me that you would have someone in law enforcement that has poor judgment," Mayes said.

Mayes says he was appalled when he heard Dasko wanted to become a sheriff. He says the announcement sparks fears among Black people.

"Two fears: One, fear that they will have a person in charge that has poor judgment when it comes to people," Mayes said. "My second fear is that the people may elect him knowing that if that reflects the personality of Las Animas, then it's another place that we [Black people] don't want to go."

Dasko did not face charges over his actions during the traffic stop.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Clinton McKinzie with the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office wrote that the incident is concerning but added that there wasn't enough evidence to conclude Dasko and the other officer unlawfully or recklessly used excessive force in the detainment.

McKinzie also mentioned that the family inside the SUV did not commit any violation of the law.

Dasko is now a patrol officer. He started his career with the Aurora Police Department in 2018, and a spokesperson with the department confirmed that he does not have any previous warnings or disciplinary actions filed against him.

Gilliam, the driver of the SUV, filed a civil lawsuit for emotional trauma against Dasko. The case is pending.

Dasko did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This story was originally published by Adi Guajardo on Scripps station KMGH in Denver.

WEST YORK, Pa. —

An 8-year-old boy died following a weekend fire in York County, Pennsylvania, which officials say was caused by discarded fireworks.

Fire crews were called to the home around 11 p.m. Saturday.

West York Fire Department Assistant Chief James Hope told sister station WGAL that there was heavy fire through the roof of the home when crews arrived.

Officials said two adults and a 6-year-old boy were already out of the home, but an 8-year-old boy had to be rescued from a second-floor bedroom.

All four people were taken to a hospital, where the 8-year-old later died.

Firefighters said the fire was caused by discarded fireworks.

"It was determined that fireworks were used and set off some point during the night and discarded in a plastic recycling bin that weren't completely out. Hot embers can burn. Any little wind can make that hot ember become hot again and melt anything close, and that's what caused the fire," Hope said.

Damage to both parts of the duplex is estimated at $300,000.

The investigation continues by the West York Fire Department, West York Borough Police and the state police fire marshal.

The Red Cross was also called to the scene.

CINCINNATI —

This July Fourth has been a celebration not only of Independence Day, but also a return to what feels like a normal summer.

This time last year, many events were scrapped due to COVID-19 and people said they are happy to be back.

There is an energy in the air.

In Harrison, band students marched and played instruments in a parade through downtown.

"It's nice to be everyone together, no masks, and watch our kids. Our kids have been in the band and so it's nice to see them in person," parent Jon Roberts said.

Some said this July Fourth feels especially meaningful.

"I think it makes everybody appreciate this year a little bit more. Not being able to do as much as we were able to last year," parent Kristin Claypoole said.

Last year, COVID-19 fizzled out most Independence Day celebrations, but in places like Harrison, the tradition is back.

Cars, people, floats and the band all made their way through town.

Candy and other free giveaways were thrown into the streets and in the direction of people happy to pick them up.

"I really did miss it. I couldn't hang out with my friends on Fourth of July like I usually do and I just really missed them," 11-year-old Adriana Claypoole said.

In Blue Ash, one of the biggest celebrations in Greater Cincinnati, Red, White and Blue Ash, was on.

"It's a day to celebrate and it brings happiness to me whenever I think about it and it's a day to feel proud," 12-year-old Avni Sharma said.

People snagged their spots for a show they've come to expect.

"It does kind of feel like a fresh start, and it's nice to just be able to return to normalcy, slowly but surely," Alee Hawkins said.

They said this Fourth of July is about celebrating a milestone and even better days ahead.

"We're back in business. That's what it means. I mean, this is life, everybody likes to enjoy themselves and they finally can," Brandon Barry said.

There have been many celebrations across Greater Cincinnati this weekend.

People were already setting off fireworks before the sun even set on Sunday.

Video above: Healthy Frozen Foods You Should Always Have in Your FreezerAs the country reopens in an ongoing pandemic, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, has been ranked the healthiest U.S. community for the second year in a row.Located roughly 40 miles from Sante Fe, the county is home to canyons and mesas connected by a 58-mile trail network, 13 developed public parks and an expansive golf course. The community of more than 19,000 people scored highest in the housing, population health and infrastructure categories, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report Healthiest Communities rankings report published Tuesday.It's the first community to take the No. 1 spot more than once since U.S. News launched the rankings in 2018, according to the report.Known for its vast, breathtaking mountain ranges, Los Alamos County also ranked among the best communities for factors such as low COVID-19 case rates, citizen income, employment and educational achievement. However, the county and the four runners-up — Douglas County, Colorado; Falls Church, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia; and San Miguel County, Colorado — all scored below average in the subcategory of educational equity."A healthy environment is part of what definitely contributes to (Los Alamos County) being a healthy community," Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott, who wasn't involved in the report, previously told CNN. "People have the opportunity and the interest in getting out, taking advantage of our mountains, trails, biking, horse-riding (and) golfing."When Los Alamos County ranked No. 1 last year, Scott said a giving community that takes health and safety seriously contributes to what makes the county so healthy overall.That has included pandemic-related donations, volunteer mask-making, up-to-date communication between health officials and citizens on safety precautions, and the public's compliance with the county's layered public health response. Census responses, too, have helped county officials identify needs and priorities, Scott said.Colorado counties Gilpin, Teller, Pitkin, Summit and Park earned the top five spots of the environment ranking, which considered factors like air quality, drinking water safety, amount of land area covered by trees, and how many people lived within a half mile of a park.U.S. News and the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems based the rankings on how nearly 3,000 U.S. communities scored on 84 health and health-related metrics placed within 10 categories: community vitality, equity, economy, education, environment, food and nutrition, population health, housing, public safety and infrastructure. For each metric, the researchers scaled the values for each community relative to the average for that metric.A community's public health past affects its presentMost data used to establish the rankings predated the pandemic, but some tools did highlight counties' COVID-19 case and vaccination rates. Kauai County, Hawaii, for example, had the lowest case rate, with 444 cases per 100,000 residents between the start of the pandemic and May 31, 2021. And four of the top 10 communities had full vaccination rates that were higher than the national rate of 41.4% as of June 4, according to the report.Conversely, vaccine hesitancy was associated with poorer health scores: None of the 10 most hesitant counties landed in the top 100 healthiest communities — but six of the 10 least hesitant counties placed in the 100 healthiest communities."What I learned in talking to health care and public health experts is that ... the type of public health infrastructure and trust in public health that you need to have for a pandemic is something you start building, not at the time of the pandemic, but 10 years earlier," said Alex Matthews, a data editor at U.S. News & World Report."Many of the counties that have, like, really high vaccination rates also scored well on our food nutrition category. And those two things don't seem related (at first)," Matthews said, adding that in some communities, a Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program connects local farmers with families who need affordable access to produce."What ends up happening is, years down the line when the public health authorities come to you and say, 'Hey, we need you to wear masks' or 'Hey, we need you to get this shot,' you think to yourself, 'Well, of course. These people are invested in my health; they've been investing in it every day. So I'm going to listen to them, and I'm going to trust them.'"The top community for mental health Counties in Hawaii took the top three spots in the mental health category, with Honolulu County ranking No. 1.Honolulu has "coordinated systems that focus on making sure they're keeping track of" and responding to residents who are experiencing mental illness, homelessness and other crises, Matthews said.Community measures of "physical health and well-being can also impact mental health because they can limit or support the way individuals are able to move through their day and interact with their community," Susan L. Polan, the associate executive director of public affairs and advocacy at the American Public Health Association, previously told CNN. Polan wasn't involved in the study. In the report, poor mental health was associated with higher rates of poverty, inadequate physical activity, heart disease, diabetes and lower life expectancy.U.S. News produces the rankings to inform community health officials of best policies and practices for productive, healthy lives, according to the report.When scoping out potential homes, people should assess whether the area is "is a cohesive community with easy access to healthy food, safe places to play and walk, good schools, diverse residents and leaderships, affordable housing, public transportation and a full range of other services," Polan said. Local governments interested in investing in communities and economically sound, locally involved businesses are other good signs of healthy residential areas, she added.The Healthiest Communities project results from support from the Aetna Foundation, a health philanthropy organization; CVS Health; and the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems, a research institution for community health. Researchers based the rankings on data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Census Bureau and Environmental Protection Agency.

CINCINNATI —

The Hamilton County sheriff's cruiser and gun were stolen right out of her driveway.

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the car was locked and the alarm was set.

According to a spokeswoman for the sheriff, the car was not damaged.

How this even happened is still leaving a lot of people scratching their heads.

The sheriff said she cannot explain it, and said the car is brand-new and uses a key fob.

For community leaders, this is a prime example that crime can come knocking at anyone's door.

"If it could happen to the sheriff, it could happen to anybody. Let's be real," State Sen. Cecil Thomas said.

Thomas has been pushing a strong message for people to stop leaving guns in their cars, making them easy to grab and go.

Now, McGuffey is trying to figure out who stole her 9-millimeter service weapon and her county-issued vehicle Saturday morning.

We talked with McGuffey by phone as she is in Arizona at a sheriff's convention this weekend.

"I had gone out to a barricaded individual out in Symmes Township. So, you know, when I got home, I locked up the car because it was just, yeah, I secured it in the vehicle and locked the car in my own driveway and got busy with something else I had to put my attention to," McGuffey said. "The next morning is when I discovered the vehicle had been stolen right out of my driveway."

She said the cruiser was stolen in Columbia Tusculum and found in the Winton Terrace area on Saturday afternoon.

The gun was gone, according to officials.

McGuffey would not specify where the gun was stored in the car.

"I don't think by far, I'm the first police officer to have secured their weapon in their car, in their driveway. We have deputies that have shotguns and various things like that secured in their vehicles because they are subject to call-outs and things like that. So, I do not find that unusual. No, I don't," she said.

Investigators are examining whether this may have been a key fob hacking situation, like we've reported on in the past, which allows crooks to get into cars.

"I hope the person who did this, whoever it was or whoever they are, will come to realize that this is not the way you should live and it's certainly not what you should do to your fellow people," McGuffey said.

Now, another gun is on the streets.

Thomas hopes it is found before it can be used to hurt someone.

"Guns are getting out here and one of the ways it's getting it, is these, breaking in cars," he said.

The sheriff said a few of her personal items were stolen.

McGuffey expects there will be protocol changes after this incident.

She said this entire encounter makes her a human being and a victim of crime.

Officials said the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section is handling the investigation.

Thomas said when out in public places where you need to store your gun, you should put it in the trunk of your car and in a locked compartment, if possible.

He also said trigger guard locks can make it difficult for anyone to use a gun they steal.

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio —

A Clermont County grandmother is in despair.

She said drugs took over the life of her 31-year-old grandson Christopher Simpson, to the point that he was armed with a knife and shot by a deputy Tuesday night. Now, she worries about what happens next, as her grandson recovers in the hospital.

Officials said Simpson is stable, but family members said they've been told he has life-threatening injuries and has been through at least one surgery.

They said they have tried to help him beat his addiction and there is nothing that seems to work.

"It's like a bad nightmare. I don't believe it all happened," Sandra Purdon said.

Purdon is a grandmother who wishes she could save her grandson. He's in the hospital after being shot by a deputy near her home in Clermont County.

"I never would've dreamed that this would've happened. Never in a million years," Purdon said.

She said a fight sparked over an open window and the air conditioner in her home at Richmond Estates on State Route 132.

She said her grandson, Simpson, refused to close a window and the situation became a battle between two brothers. Simpson's mother called 911 as he apparently motioned as he would cut them.

"He like, pulled out this knife and started, like, pointing it, and just talking off the wall stuff," she said on the call.

Purdon said Simpson has been into drugs and that they found a syringe on his bed.

She said he got out of jail in January and they've tried to help him, but it has been frightening.

"He's got this thing that he's possessed by the devil. He was walking around here the day before yesterday carrying a Bible," Purdon said.

She said they kicked him out leading up to the shooting.

Investigators said Simpson kept inching closer with the knife.

"We wish that they would have just tased him instead of shooting him, if that was at all possible, you know," Purdon said.

Now, this grandmother wonders if there's anything she can do.

"No matter what, he's my grandson, you know, and I don't want to see him die, so," Purdon said.

No one else was hurt, according to investigators.

Family members said while Simpson is apparently in stable condition, they're still waiting to see if he'll need any more surgeries.

They told WLWT they were told he was shot twice in the chest.

Ohio BCI is investigating the shooting by the deputy. No information has been released about the deputy involved. Authorities say Simpson has been charged with felonious assault, aggravated menacing and domestic violence.

PIKE COUNTY, Ohio —

On the fifth anniversary of the Pike County murders, a status hearing in Pike County Court turned into a surprise plea deal in the killings.

Eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally murdered in what Gov. Mike DeWine called the biggest case in Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation history.

The youngest charged, Jake Wagner, agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

DeWine stood alongside family members of those who were killed and teared up talking with us about the emotions of this day.

"Five years ago, today, I was here, we met with family members in the church and I committed to them that we would find who did this and that we would bring them to justice. There was a lot of justice done today," DeWine said.

On the five-year anniversary of the Pike County murders, an emotional DeWine stood outside the Pike County Courthouse.

Thursday brought a victory in a case he'd held close to the heart since he was Ohio's attorney general.

Wagner agreed to a deal, pleading guilty to 23 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder for the killings of eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016.

They were shot execution-style at four homes.

"That removes the sentence of death from, as a possible sentence, that will not be possible, at that point, to impose a possible death sentence. Do you understand that?" the judge said.

"I do, your honor," Wagner said.

Prosecutors said there was a growing custody dispute between Wagner and Hannah Rhoden over their daughter.

They outlined meticulous planning by Jake Wagner, Angela Wagner, George "Billy" Wagner and George Wagner IV, including buying phone jammers and hacking Facebook accounts, forging custody documents and building silencers for guns.

Jake Wagner apologized in court.

His attorneys said he knows he will die in prison.

"Family's been through hell. While today, I'm sure was a very gratifying day, it couldn't have been an easy day. They've got to be leaving here just totally exhausted and, you know, emotionally spent. But these are tough people, these are strong people," DeWine said.

Prosecutors said Jake Wagner clearly implicated the other Wagners in his statements.

They also said he led them to weapons and vehicles used in the killings.

In addition to a series of life sentences, Jake Wagner could also owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Prosecutors said Jake Wagner's deal also includes an agreement that will allow Angela Wagner, George "Billy" Wagner, and George Wagner IV to avoid the death penalty, but that means Jake Wagner will have to testify in each of their trials.

MASON, Ohio —

Kings Island chaos was caught on camera Saturday.

Police were called to the amusement park to break up large groups of teens fighting.

People who were there said it was traumatic not only in the park, but outside in the parking lot.

We learned a police officer was assaulted while trying to help someone else who was assaulted.

Mason police said that officer was attacked with a "chemical spray" but added that it was not his mace.

They said that officer is fine.

But people we talked with said the whole scene was scary.

"It became a mob. Mosh pit-style fighting," witness Shan Powell said.

Powell captured video that might get your heart racing.

Families and people including Powell who went to Kings Island for an escape on Saturday, found themselves trapped in tension.

"There was a lot of yelling. Ice, sodas being thrown at the officers, at each other, but it was just pretty much chaos," Powell said.

Powell said he was eating at Coney Bar-B-Que when he said a big group of teens filled the area and a fight broke out at about 7:30 p.m.

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"The whole day, there had been quite a bit of people living without consequences, line-jumping, stealing Coke products, and it was just a really weird feeling throughout the whole day," he said.

Powell saw security, Mason police, Warren County Sheriff's deputies and Ohio state troopers arrive quickly.

The park said it closed 30 minutes early due to the bad behavior.

But people said the fighting only continued in the parking lot.

"We really just got to work together. This is a community issue. It's not going to be just Kings Island to fix it. It's not going to be just Mason police that fixes it. It's not going to be just the parents that fix it. It's going to be a unified effort," Powell said.

So what is the fix?

Powell thinks more staffing, maybe new rules and perhaps a hard look in the mirror.

"They were terrorizing that park last night and you've just got to decide: Is that who you want to be? Is that the image that you want to portray? And then, just make the choice and stick with it and if some of your friends don't follow you, that's OK. But just make the right choices," Powell said.

A spokesman for Kings Island released this statement to WLWT initially:

"The safety of our guests and associates is always our top priority. On Saturday, the decision was made to close the park 30 minutes early due to unruly behavior and altercations involving a number of teenagers. This behavior did not align with our park's values, and was not the experience we want any guest to have while visiting Kings Island."

He then released a second statement to us when we circled back, asking about concerns from passholders who are considering dropping their membership if the fights become a trend:

"Yesterday's event was not a normal occurrence at King Island. Unruly behavior has no place at our park. The altercations on display last night do not align with our park's values, and were not the experience we want any guest to have while visiting Kings Island. We are taking immediate steps to address the situation so that our guests enjoy their future visits."

Investigators said they have made no arrests, but also said charges could still be filed if they are able to positively identify people involved.

They're also still unsure if anyone was hurt during the fighting because they said everyone scattered and ran from the area.