Layne reportedly stabbed Stephanie Loop, 22, of 1827 Jackson Ave., at an 11th Street residence multiple times, then traveled to Notre Dame Elementary School, where he is said to have entered his estranged wife's classroom. He then reportedly stabbed her 14 times, and according to a relative, shot her once in the cheek.
Christi Layne, 53, of 1245 Coles Blvd., Mike Layne's estranged wife, was lifeflighted to Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W. Va., while Loop was lifeflighted to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.
Both were listed in critical but stable condition.
When law enforcement arrived at his residence, officers heard shots from the house, sending two Scioto County Sheriff's detectives diving behind their car.
Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner called for backup including officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, The Scioto County Sheriff's Office, New Boston Police, Southern Ohio Correctional Facility and others.
At least 150 law enforcement agents were at the scene at one time or another during the hours before the assailant was found dead in an outside building at the rear of his house, and emergency vehicles numbered upwards of 35.
A perimeter immediately was established around the residence, and some officers were crouched down or prone behind their cars, while deputies could be seen with shotguns across the street from the house.
A makeshift command post was set up behind about five vehicles near the house, then activity began, as officers crossed into the side yards of neighbors, to gain access to the rear of the house.
At one point, two special weapons were fired to take out two surveillance cameras on the house. That turned out to be the only shots fired the entire day by law enforcement officers.
Two SWAT teams were brought in - one from SOCF and one from the OSHP.
The first sign a SWAT team was being brought in came at 10:25 a.m., when a helicopter continually encircled the scene, and shortly afterwards, a vehicle was parked far behind the perimeter set up by authorities.
A SWAT team from SOCF marched from that vehicle up Argonne Road to the perimeter, and immediately was briefed on the mission.
At 10:35 a.m., the OSHP SWAT team came in. Among those briefing the team was OSHP Portsmouth Post Commander Lt. Mike Crispen.
At the media conference, Crispen said his mission was to provide as much additional support as possible to reduce the amount of risk to officers and the suspect.
"We contacted our Special Response Team in Columbus that was already on standby, and they were already on their way down to assist," he said. "We put our team in position, and the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility team was already in place."
Crispen said the OSHP used its Special Response Team to work with the Hostage Negotiations Team to give the suspect every opportunity to communicate.
Two armored units were brought in from the Special Response Team, and by 1 p.m., one of the units with a trooper on top pulled up into the front yard of the house.
OSHP officials then could be seen running back to vehicles behind the perimeter and bringing in communication supplies, including phones in buckets. One phone was thrown through a front window, and more attempts were made to communicate with the suspect.
Horner continued to oversee the area adjacent to the house while the various agencies were assigned individual missions.
All the detectives from the Portsmouth Police Department, with the exception of Jim Charles who is involved in a murder trial this week, were at the scene, and what looked to be all the detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff's Office also worked the perimeter.
Neighbors lined the streets where row after row of law enforcement vehicles were parked. Many reported hearing the shots.
Fred Smith said as soon as he drove onto Argonne Road Thursday morning, he heard shots.
"I heard about five shots when I first came down here," Smith said. "They were rapid-fire shots, very fast."
Along with law enforcement, Portsmouth Mayor Jim Kalb and Portsmouth City Council member David Malone also arrived on the scene and conferred with law enforcement agents.
Crispen said the goal for his unit was to give the suspect as many opportunities as possible to communicate with law enforcement.
"After an hour or so of attempting to communicate with the subject, we went in and located Mr. Layne in the building behind the house," he said.
Shortly after 1 p.m., Horner came back to the edge of the perimeter for a short briefing.
"We have every indication that he is alive in the house, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol Negotiation Team is in place in the armored vehicle, and they are attempting negotiations with him," he said. "There is nothing to indicate there is anyone else in the house."
Then at about 1:40 p.m., Horner made his third and final visit to the edge of the perimeter.
"We have had a conclusion to the situation here. The suspect has died as a result of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," he said. "There is no indication we had any conversations at all with him. We attempted every means possible to negotiate with him. However, all attempts were unsuccessful."
Minutes later, Scioto County Coroner Terry Johnson arrived at the scene and pronounced Layne dead at 2 p.m.
"I want to point out something that is very important in light of Virginia Tech and Columbine. Gov. Ted Strickland worked closely with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in partnering with local law enforcement agencies to provide Active Shooter Training," Horner said. "And that training was put into effect today, and in my opinion and the opinion of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, was implemented flawlessly. It resulted in a very prompt and quick response, and prevented any additional dangers to those children."
His reference was to the children in Christi Layne's classroom.
FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.
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