Third police officer dies after ‘pure hell’ shooting in US
A third officer has died after a shooting in the US when police tried to execute an arrest warrant on a man accused of domestic violence.
Jacob Russell Chaffins, a police dog handler and army veteran, had been rushed to hospital following the shooting in Kentucky but did not survive, his department said.
Officers had encountered “pure hell” as they attempted to serve a court-issued warrant on Thursday night, local sheriff John Hunt said, with deputy William Petry and captain Ralph Frasure also killed.
“They had no chance,” Mr Hunt added.
A police dog – K9 Drago – died and five other officers were wounded during the stand-off at a property in the small town of Allen.
Suspect Lance Storz surrendered after several hours following negotiations which involved his family members, Mr Hunt said.
The 49-year-old appeared in court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to murder.
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Court papers allege that Storz used a rifle to fire multiple rounds at officers at his home.
The Kentucky Police Department hailed the dead officers as “heroes”, saying Captain Frasure had served in law enforcement for 39 years “with honour and glory up until the last second when you did not go down without a fight”.
In a tribute to officer Chaffins, it added: “The lives you’ve saved since you started policing are innumerable, and that’s how you gave your life – saving another.”
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the officers who responded to the incident “exhibited unimaginable heroism and sacrifice… in the face of evil”.
