Man accused of killing 3 Kentucky officers and police K-9 dies in jail, sheriff says

A man accused of killing three officers and wounding several others during a shootout in Floyd County, Kentucky has died after he hung himself in jail, Floyd County Commonwealth Attorney Brent Turner said.

Lance Storz, 49, was found dead in the bathroom area of the Pike County Detention Center, Turner said. Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said the Pikeville Police Department is investigating.

Storz was charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the June 30, 2022, shootout that claimed the lives of Floyd County Deputy William Petry, Prestonsburg Capt. Ralph Frasure, and Prestonsburg police officer and K-9 handler Jacob Chaffins.

Drago, a police K-9, was also killed.

Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt previously told WCHS an officer was pinned under a car so long by gunfire that he got carbon monoxide poisoning, while a K-9 partner was shot to death inside the cruiser in a hail of bullets.

Wounded in the shooting were Floyd County Constable Gary Wolfe, Floyd County Deputy Darrin Lawson, and Emergency Management Director Joe Reynolds.

Authorities said deputies were attempting to serve papers at a home when Storz allegedly barricaded himself and began shooting at them.