Officials offer new details in deadly officer shooting in Eastern Kentucky
Communities in Eastern Kentucky were still recovering over the Independence Day weekend following what Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods called a "devastating" fatal shootout on Thursday.
Two members of law enforcement remain hospitalized as of Sunday, Woods and other local officials said at a press conference, after a gunman opened fire on police during a standoff three days earlier in the small city of Allen. Three officers and a K9 were killed, authorities have said, with several others injured.
A Floyd County sheriff's deputy and an emergency management director were still in the hospital due to gunshot wounds sustained when 49-year-old Lance Storz opened fire on officers who tried to serve him with a warrant Thursday night, according to police.
Floyd County Sheriff's Deputy William Petry, Prestonsburg Police Department Capt. Ralph Frasure and Prestonsburg police dog Drago were killed in the standoff.
Prestonsburg Officer Jacob Chaffins, who served as the handler for Drago and the department's other police dogs, died from his injuries Friday.
"The officers performed valiantly and did everything in their power to neutralize the suspect, and at 10 p.m., he surrendered," Floyd County Judge-Executive Robbie Williams said. "Upon surrendering, the reality and magnitude of what just occurred began to sink in, and our community was going to be forever changed."
Several officials said they would not go into more detail of the investigation at this time, including Prestonsburg Mayor Lee Stapleton and Lt. Col. Ross Shurtleff, the city's deputy chief of police.
Background: Third Kentucky police officer dies after shootout while trying to serve warrant in Floyd County
Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods urged officers to remain strong in the aftermath of the shooting.
"I don't know exactly where we go, I just know that we continue to hold the line," Woods said. I would ask that anyone within earshot of this conference or the days to come that, if you pray, to pray for these families, to pray for all the loved ones that have suffered so greatly. It's immeasurable, the suffering, the pain."
State Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty expressed thanks for the work of first responders and urged people to continue to show their support.
More news: As Eastern Kentucky mourns 3 officers killed in line of duty, questions and grief remain
"Here in Eastern Kentucky, we are made up of small towns with a big sense of community," Laferty said.
Warrant issued after wife details hostage situation
Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said before Thursday's shooting, the Prestonsburg Police Department conducted a welfare check at Storz's home in Allen after a family member reported possible domestic abuse at the residence.
Hunt said when officers responded to the home, Storz's wife told officers she had been held against her will for several days and sexually assaulted.
The Courier Journal does not name sexual assault victims except in exceptional circumstances or with the victim's permission.
She was later taken to a hospital. No update on her condition was available Sunday.
Police have said previously Storz unleashed a "barrage of gunfire" Thursday night when Prestonsburg officers attempted to serve a warrant based on his wife's account.
Kentucky State Police troopers received a call for help just before 7 p.m. Thursday and the shooting standoff continued for nearly three hours before Storz surrendered and was taken into custody, police said.
Storz pleaded not guilty Friday morning in Floyd District Court to two counts of murdering a police officer, five counts of attempted murder of a police officer, one count of attempted murder and one count of first-degree assault of a service animal, court records show.
Additional charges following the death of Chaffins have not yet been issued.
Funeral services and a vigil
Visitation for Deputy Petry began Sunday evening at the Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home in Martin and will continue Monday.
Funeral services will take place at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg on Monday beginning at 11 a.m.
Services for Capt. Frasure will begin with a visitation at Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home starting at 6 p.m. Monday and continue Tuesday. A funeral will take place at the Mountain Arts Center starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Visitation services for Officer Chaffins will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Tom's Creek Free Will Baptist Church in Ivel. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Mountain Arts Center.
A candlelight vigil is also scheduled to take place Sunday at the Prestonsburg High School football stadium beginning at 9:30 p.m.
Flags at Kentucky state buildings were ordered to be lowered to half-staff beginning Tuesday morning in honor of the three officers who were killed, the Associated Press reported. The flags were to remain at half-staff until sunset Thursday.
Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33. Reporter Krista Johnson and weekend editor Keisha Rowe contributed.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Allen, KY shooting leaves three officers dead, two more hospitalized
