Three officers were killed when a man opened fire on police trying to serve a warrant at a Kentucky home Thursday night, authorities said. Four other people were injured at the scene in a rural, mountainous area of eastern Kentucky.
The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office identified two of the slain officers as Deputy William Petrie and Prestonsburg Police Capt. Ralph Frazier. The third officer died of his injuries Friday and was identified Saturday by Kentucky State Police as Prestonsburg Police Officer Jacob Chaffins.
Meanwhile, three other officers were injured, state police said. Two remain hospitalized in stable condition, and a third was treated and released.
An emergency management officer was also injured and a police dog was killed, according to an arrest citation. The injured officer remained hospitalized Saturday, state police said.
Police took 49-year-old Lance Stortz into custody late Thursday night.
Responding officers encountered “pure hell” when they arrived at the scene, Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt told reporters Friday afternoon.
“They didn’t stand a chance,” he said.
Storz used a shotgun to fire multiple rounds at officers around his residence on Main Street in Allen, Kentucky, the citation said.
Hunt said four deputies initially responded and then called for backup when shots were fired at them. Officers at the scene were under fire for hours, Hunt said. He said Storz surrendered after negotiations involving members of Storz’s family.
Hunt said deputies were serving a court-issued warrant related to a domestic violence situation. State police were called to the scene at 6:30 p.m., joining local officials already on the scene.
Storz was arraigned Friday morning by a Pike County judge. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of murdering a police officer and was jailed on $10 million bail. Originally one of the charges was attempted murder of a police officer, but at the hearing a judge said it was upgraded to murder. He also faces another charge of attempted murder and assault on a service animal.
State police said in a statement they are investigating the shooting.
Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in a social media post on Friday that he was “heartbroken to learn of the deaths of two law enforcement officers.”
“Our law enforcement agencies showed unimaginable heroism and self-sacrifice last night in the face of evil,” Cameron said.
“This is another difficult day for Kentucky as we mourn the loss of three brave officers and K-9s who gave their lives protecting the people of Floyd County,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement Saturday. “UK and I ask the community to join us in praying for the family and loved ones of Captain Ralph Fraser, Deputy William Petrie and Officer Jacob Chaffins. Let us stand together in honoring these heroes and their sacrifice and pray for the full recovery of those injured.”
Add Comment