3 cops killed in Kentucky

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FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT/WSAZ/Gray News) - A gunman killed three law enforcement officers and injured several others in Kentucky during a shootout that lasted for hours, officials said.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department identified the three officers killed were Capt. Ralph Frasure with the Prestonburg Police Department, K-9 Handler Jacob R. Chaffins and Floyd County Deputy William Petry.

“You have dedicated your short time on this earth to the service of the citizens of Prestonsburg and the Commonwealth as an EMT, Fire Fighter, and Police Officer. You further dedicated yourself to the security of our country as a valiant soldier,” a post from the City of Prestonsburg, Kentucky Police Department read.

Officials identified the shooter as Lance Storz, 49, from Allen. He was taken into custody, and his bond was set at $10 million in a court appearance Friday.

An arrest citation from Kentucky State Police said eight people were shot in the attack Thursday night. Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said Friday it appeared the shooter was waiting for law enforcement and opened fire on them when they arrived.

“This guy seemed to (have a) plan, and he executed that plan almost to precision,” he said.

The sheriff said it went on “for hours,” and responders were not sure initially where the gunfire was coming from.

A police K-9 was fatally shot as well. Kentucky State Police said in a news release Friday that four other law enforcement officers were injured with two still hospitalized. Two officers are in stable condition and one officer was treated and released.

Additionally, one civilian was injured and receiving medical care at a hospital, state police said. It was reported earlier that the civilian was a county emergency service director who responded and was shot.

The officials said the shooter was alone in the home. Authorities responded to the house for a domestic situation, but Storz’ wife and child were in a safe location before the shooting started and have since been taken to a domestic violence shelter, said Floyd County Attorney Keith Bartley.

Bartley said there was no doubt multiple weapons were used and “lots of ammunition,” describing the scene as a war zone. He said one officer is being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning as he had to stay under a car for hours to avoid being shot.

“There is no question this was a mass shooting,” Bartley said. “When I say it was a war zone when I pulled into this area, you are talking about people in fatigues, people with body armor, people with night vison, people with assault weapons - if that’s not a war zone, I don’t know what is.”

Hunt said the suspect was in custody as of 10 p.m. Thursday. Deputies were attempting to serve a court-issued warrant in a domestic violence situation when the incident started earlier in the evening.

A preliminary hearing for Storz was scheduled for Monday.

I have no idea what a "county emergency service director" is and the article doesn't specify if they were there before the cops were shot at or arrived after. Were they responding to the initial domestic incident? Also if you click on the article it shows the perp's face is scarred from the gunfight.