The fatal shootings of two officers were announced the morning after the incident, but another officer who was in critical condition succumbed to his injuries Friday night, Kentucky Trooper Matt Gayhart confirmed. Prestonsburg Police Patrolman Jacob Chaffins died Friday, according to a department social media post. He was the canine handler for K9 Officer Drago, who was also killed during the shooting. Floyd County Sheriff’s Deputy William Petry, a former state trooper, and Prestonsburg Police Capt. Ralph Frasure, a 39-year law enforcement veteran, also died. “It’s a small community and not only have we lost some great officers, but we’ve lost pillars of the community,” Gayheart said. “It’s going to take the community coming together to get through this.” WHAT IS A MASS SHOOTING? There’s no consensus definition, but here’s what you need to know
How did it happen
Four officers were trying to serve a warrant on Lance Storz, 49, at his home on Main Street when he opened fire with a rifle, according to his arrest report. Λίγο πριν από τις 7 μ.μ., η πολιτεία[ηαστυνομίαέλαβεμιακλήσηγιαβοήθειαείπεοGayheartΕκτόςαπότουςστρατιώτεςπερισσότεροιαξιωματικοίαπότοτμήματουΠρέστονσμπουργκκαιπράκτορεςαπόταΓραφείαΑλκοόλΚαπνούΠυροβόλωνκαιΕκρηκτικώντουΛονδίνουκαιτουΆσλαντανταποκρίθηκανστησκηνήστοΆλενπληθυσμού166[olicereceivedacalltoassistGayheartsaidInadditiontotroopersmoreofficersfromthePrestonsburgdepartmentandagentsfromtheBureauofAlcoholTobaccoFirearmsandExplosives’LondonandAshlandOfficesrespondedtothesceneinAllenpopulation166[ηαστυνομίαέλαβεμιακλήσηγιαβοήθειαείπεοGayheartΕκτόςαπότουςστρατιώτεςπερισσότεροιαξιωματικοίαπότοτμήματουΠρέστονσμπουργκκαιπράκτορεςαπόταΓραφείαΑλκοόλΚαπνούΠυροβόλωνκαιΕκρηκτικώντουΛονδίνουκαιτουΆσλαντανταποκρίθηκανστησκηνήστοΆλενπληθυσμού166[olicereceivedacalltoassistGayheartsaidInadditiontotroopersmoreofficersfromthePrestonsburgdepartmentandagentsfromtheBureauofAlcoholTobaccoFirearmsandExplosives’LondonandAshlandOfficesrespondedtothesceneinAllenpopulation166 About three hours later, Lance Storz, 49, was taken into custody, Gayheart said. He was booked into the Pike County Detention Center at approximately 4:30 a.m. and charged with two counts of murder of a police officer, five counts of attempted murder of a police officer, one count of attempted murder and one count of first-degree assault on a police officer. service animal, court records show. In addition to the three officers and the dog who were fatally injured, four other officers were injured along with an emergency management manager. The story continues Two of the officers are in stable condition and one was treated and released, according to state police. The injured citizen was still receiving treatment at a hospital as of 4pm on Friday. “They encountered pure hell,” Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said. “They had no chance.” Officers were trying to serve Storz with a warrant after an emergency domestic violence protection order was issued for Storz’s wife on Thursday, according to court records. The State Police Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting. “We’re trying to figure out what led up to the active shooting,” Gayheart said Friday night. Several law enforcement officials remained at the scene of the shooting into the night, with at least two bullet-riddled squad cars being towed around 7 p.m. Gov. Andy Beshear described the episode as “a roadblock situation involving gunfire,” in a brief statement on Twitter. The case will be transferred to Floyd Circuit Court and could go to trial. More headlines: A chase in Tennessee, a shootout in Louisville: What we know about the Dixie Highway shooting Before Chaffins succumbed to his injuries, Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton posted on Facebook that he was “just beginning his career in law enforcement.” His young wife and daughter were in the hospital “mourning him,” he wrote. “The City of Prestonsburg wishes to thank everyone for their show of support and community outpouring of love. We will hold our colleagues up in the reverence they deserve,” Stapleton wrote in the post. Since Thursday’s shooting, there has been an outpouring of support on social media from the public, police departments and public officials across the state for police officers and first responders. “Please keep the families of these brave officers in your prayers. Our law enforcement showed unimaginable heroism and sacrifice last night in the face of evil,” Attorney General Daniel Cameron posted on Facebook Friday. A homecoming procession for Officers Petry and Frasure from Frankfort was held Friday night, attended by dozens of emergency vehicles from departments across the region. More than an hour away from Prestonsburg, a flag hung over an overpass with squad cars, ambulances and fire trucks at intersections along Mountain Parkway. Families stood at the end of their routes and couples stepped out to the side of the road, waiting to pay their respects. As the hearse and ambulance carrying the fallen officers neared the city limits, a light mist began to fall and a huge flag attached to cranes hung in the street. Associated Press and Courier Journal reporter Lucas Aulbach contributed. This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: 3 Kentucky police officers killed, others injured by suspect with rifle
