By Mark Maynard
Kentucky Today
PRESTONSBURG — As this small eastern Kentucky community grapples with the aftermath of a shooting that took the lives of three police officers last week, a fund has been established to help the families of the fallen officers.
Donations can be made to the Floyd County Community Foundation at http://bit.ly/FloydCF.
There was a community prayer vigil on Friday outside the Floyd County Courthouse with dozens gathering.
Capt. Robert Frasure, Deputy William Petry and Officer Jacob Chaffins, were killed in the line of duty last week in Allen.
The officers who died were Capt. Ralph Frasure and Officer Jacob Chaffins with the Prestonsburg Police Department and William Petry, a deputy with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office. The three were shot to death after officers went to serve a domestic violence order against Lance Storz on Thursday. Storz allegedly opened fire on police without warning.
In addition to the three officers who died, several others were injured. The county emergency manager also was injured and a police dog, Drago, was killed.
Storz faces charges of murder and attempted murder.
During an arraignment hearing before Floyd District Judge Eric D. Hall on Friday, Lance P. Storz, 49, of Main Street, Allen, Hall entered a not guilty plea on Storz’ behalf.
Hall ordered Storz held on a $10 million bond.
“There will be substantially more charges,” said Floyd County Attorney Keith Bartley. “The charges from last (Thursday) night were in the middle of a war zone basically and done basically without information that was definitive at that time. There should be substantially more charges.”
Bartley said Storz has been charged with crimes that are death penalty eligible, but the decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be is up to Floyd Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner.
According to the arrest citation, beginning at approximately 6:44 p.m., June 30, Storz used a rifle to fire multiple rounds at multiple police officers at and around his residence. The rounds caused the death of two police officers at the scene, injured five additional officers, injured the emergency management director, and caused the death of a K9 officer.
In addition to charges of murder of a police officer, Storz faces multiple charges of attempted murder of a police officer.
According to court documents, a domestic violence case was opened against Storz on June 30, with Judge Hall issuing an order for emergency protection that day.
Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said after the arraignment hearing Friday that four officers went to Storz’ residence on Thursday as part of the investigation into a domestic case and encountered the unthinkable.
“That investigation led them to a residence at Allen,” Hunt said. “An individual in that house who police were probably investigating on the domestic charge seemed to be waiting for them and just opened fire upon their arrival.”
The shooting took place in the little town of Allen of less than 200 population. Longtime resident Dr. Eugene Blackburn, the minister of education at Allen Baptist Church, said the area is shaken and will be for some time.
“It’s a tragedy in any community but it’s a real tragedy in our little community,” he said. “It’s like it’s this little peaceful place but yesterday (Thursday) it wasn’t.”
Kentucky State Police is investigating the incident and will release more information upon completion of interviewing witnesses and gathering facts.
Nationally, shootings of police officers are up 22 percent with 178 killed so far in 2022.
