crime

ALLEN, Ky. (KT) - A eastern Kentucky man who opened fire on police officers attempting to serve a warrant related to domestic violence situation Thursday is facing three charges of murder.

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Lance Storz, 49, of Allen was discovered hanging in a shower area in the Pike County Detention Center on Tuesday morning. He had been charged with two counts of murdering a police officer and another count of murder along with assault on a service animal last June.

Lance Stortz, 49, of Allen, was arrested after the deadly rampage. The hours-long standoff ended when Storz came out of the home around 10 p.m. 

At an arraignment in Pike County on Friday morning, he faced two charges of murder of a police officer, four counts of attempted murder of a police officer, one additional charge of attempted murder and one count of assault on a service animal, according to court records. Drago, the K-9, was killed during the shooting.

Another Prestonsburg officer, Jacob Chaffins, died after being hospitalized, the police department said in a social media post Friday night.

A not guilty plea was entered on Storz's behalf by District Judge Eric Hall who set his bond at $10 million.

Storz barricaded himself in his home and fired on sheriff deputies who were attempting to serve a warrant, according to Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt. Storz used a rifle to fire multiple rounds at the officers.

“They encountered pure hell when they arrived. They had no chance," Hunt said Friday at the courthouse.

“There is no question this was a mass shooting," said Floyd County Attorney Keith Bartley, who was at the scene. "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.”

The incident happened around 5 p.m. when deputies were attempting to serve a warrant. Storz instead began firing on them with multiple rounds. He barricaded himself in the home on Main Street for another five hours before surrendering. 

Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in a social media post Friday he is “heartbroken to learn of the deaths of two law enforcement officers” during the shooting in Floyd County.

“Our law enforcement exhibited unimaginable heroism and sacrifice last night in the face of evil,” Cameron said.

A massive police presence from throughout eastern Kentucky gathered to offer support in the small community of 182 people, according to Census data.