Ky. man indicted on 20 charges for allegedly fatally shooting 3 officers, drug detection dog during standoff

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (TCD) -- A 49-year-old man was charged with several crimes this week for allegedly fatally shooting three law enforcement officers, wounding several more, and killing a K-9 officer.

On June 30, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a shooting occurred in the area. Days later, on July 2, the Kentucky State Police announced they were investigating an officer-involved shooting in Floyd County that left three law enforcement officers and a canine dead.

The victims were identified as Capt. Ralph Frasure, a 39-year veteran of the Prestonburg Police Department; Deputy William Petry, a 31-year law enforcement official who served two years with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, 15 years with Kentucky State Police, and 14 years with the Prestonburg Police Department; Officer Jacob Chaffins, who had been with the Prestonburg Police Department since 2019; and K-9 Drago, a German shepherd drug detection canine. Drago had been with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office for six years.

Four other law enforcement officers were wounded.

According to WSAZ-TV, the suspect Lance Storz was indicted Monday on three counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault, seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree assault on a service animal, fourth-degree assault, and fourth-degree domestic violence.

WSAZ reports on June 30, a woman called 911 to report she was being held against her will and was being sexually assaulted in Allen, Kentucky. Floyd County Sheriff’s Office deputies went to the scene to conduct a welfare check and reportedly saw the woman outside the home. She reportedly ran to deputies and said she could escape because Storz was asleep. She reportedly told deputies Storz had firearms inside the house.

After speaking with law enforcement officials, the woman was granted an emergency protection order against Storz. A medical exam reportedly proved signs of abuse and assault, and deputies went to serve an arrest warrant and the protection order.

Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said at a press conference the first deputy approached the door, and Storz allegedly answered it "like he had been waiting for police" because he was wearing a bulletproof vest and backpack. He then allegedly opened fire.

One officer reportedly hid underneath a police car for hours to avoid getting shot.

The shooting was reportedly the deadliest attack on law enforcement in that part of Eastern Kentucky for nearly 100 years.

The Louisville Courier Journal reports Allen, Kentucky, is a town of just 166 people. The standoff between Storz and law enforcement officials lasted about three hours. He reportedly surrendered at approximately 10 p.m.

Storz was booked into the Floyd County Jail and was being held on $10 million bond.

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