The Elyria community marked one month since the tragic ambush of Lorain police officers with a flash tattoo fundraising event to support the families of the deceased and injured. On July 23, Officers Phillip Wagner, Peter Gayle, and Brent Payne were attacked in a shocking incident on a Lorain street, leaving Officer Wagner dead and his comrades wounded. Distilled Ink, a local tattoo parlor in Elyria, became the venue for an event not just to encase in permanent ink the community's solidarity but also to raise much-needed funds for the officers' families. This effort, according to News 5 Cleveland, witnessed the shop owner, artists, and community members coming together in a display of support.
Josh Ison, the owner of Distilled Ink, wanted to rapidly organize the event and ensure that it brought not just financial aid but a semblance of unity to the community. "There’s so much negativity in the world," he told News 5 Cleveland. "I’m just trying to do something in our community to bring everybody together." The artists at the event worked for free, accepting only tips, which went directly to benefit the officers' families. The event featured not only tattoos but food trucks, raffles, and music to engender a broader community atmosphere.
Moreover, according to a report from FOX8, the fundraiser included various price points for tattoos, basket raffles with items donated by the community, and a 50/50 raffle. One notable act of generosity came when the winner of the 50/50 raffle chose to donate their winnings back to the cause. Jennifer Storm, instrumental in connecting the tattoo shop with law enforcement families, highlighted the fundraiser's success, saying, "They raised $6,705 to give to the families of the officers."
Interestingly, Ison, who once had his own run-ins with the law, now finds himself in a different relationship with police officers. "Instead of getting chased by the police and stuff like that, now I tattoo them," he told Spectrum News 1 in a show of his transformed relationship with law enforcement. The overall response to the event reflected the community's deep desire to assist and support those keeping them safe, with people showing up merely to donate, not caring to get a tattoo at all.
