Holly MatkinAllen, KY – Two Kentucky law enforcement officers were murdered and a third is on life support following a deadly armed standoff at a Floyd County home on Thursday night.
Floyd County Attorney Keith Bartley confirmed on Friday morning that two law enforcement officers and a police K9 were killed in the June 30 attack, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A third law enforcement officer was revived and remained on life support late Friday morning, Bartley said.
He said that officer is in “grave” condition, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Multiple other officers were wounded by bullets and shrapnel, Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said.
Five of those wounded are law enforcement officers, and the sixth is an emergency management director, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
“They encountered pure hell,” Sheriff Hunt said. “They had no chance.”
Bartley likened the scene to a “war zone” and said it was “raining bullets,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
The gunman, later identified as 49-year-old Lance Storz, used multiple high-velocity firearms during the attack, according to the county attorney.
The identities of the officers killed and wounded in the ambush have not been formally released.
Sheriff Hunt said deputies were trying to serve a domestic violence order on Railroad Street in Allen at about 5 p.m. on June 30 when the suspect opened fire on them, WCHS reported.
Local officials said on Friday that the investigation stemmed from an alleged sexual assault, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The sheriff said Storz seemed to be waiting for the deputies to arrive.
Storz barricaded himself inside a residence after the initial attack.
Floyd County Judge-Executive Robbie Williams said that the incident was “never a hostage situation” and that reports claiming the suspect took his wife and daughter hostage were inaccurate, WYMT reported.
Sheriff Hunt said multiple law enforcement officers from different agencies were shot during the gunfight that ensued but he did not release any information about which agencies they belonged to.
The wounded officers were transported to various different hospitals around the region for treatment, according to WYMT.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement, WSAZ reported.
Storz walked out of the home at approximately 10 p.m. and was taken into custody, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This is the suspect in the deadly shooting of a police officer in Floyd Co. last night. 49-year-old Lance Storz is facing charges of murder and murder of a police officer. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/n9iAlugBjD
— Evelyn Schultz (@EvelynSchultzTV) July 1, 2022
Two other individuals who live at the residence were taken to a domestic violence shelter, police said.
Storz was booked into the Pike County Detention Center shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Friday on two counts of murder of a police officer, four counts of attempted murder of a police officer, attempted murder, and one count of first-degree assault on a police animal, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Bartley said additional charges were expected.
The case will ultimately be handled by Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner, who will decide if the case will be handled as a capital crime, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Storz pleaded not guilty on Friday morning.
Floyd County District Judge Eric Hall set his bond at $10 million.
Bartley said the officers who were murdered and wounded “are people with children and spouses, moms and dads,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
“Their worlds will never be the same,” he added.
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