Topeka police: 2 officers fatally shot responding to suspicious vehicle near grocery store

TOPEKA, Kan. - Two Kansas police officers were shot outside a grocery store Sunday while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle and died later at a hospital, authorities said.

Topeka Police Chief Ronald Miller called the shootings of Cpl. David Gogian and Officer Jeff Atherly "unspeakable." He said both officers were shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire on them within minutes of their arrival to investigate the vehicle.

Police said they are searching for a 22-year-old man believed to have shot the officers. He remained at large Sunday night.

A third officer was at the scene when the shooting happened, but was not injured.

Miller said there was more than one person in the vehicle that police were investigating. Officers later found the vehicle outside a house about 10 blocks from the grocery store, but when they searched the home they didn't find the shooting suspect.

A small crowd gathered for a candlelight vigil outside police headquarters as reporters nearby were given the news of the officers' deaths.

Gogian, 50, started with the Topeka department in September 2004. Atherly, 29, had been with the department since April 2011.