A sheriff’s deputy died Sunday and another was injured after both were shot while attempting to serve warrants in Russiaville, Indiana, authorities said.
The officers received no response when they knocked on the door to a home. They then entered the residence where they were confronted by gunfire, authorities said.
Officers returned fire. Two were struck — Sgt. Jordan J. Buckley, 35, and Deputy Carl A. Koontz, 27.
Buckley, a nine-year veteran of the Howard County Sheriff’s Department, is in stable condition while Koontz, who had close to three years on the job, died from his injures.
“We are working on the crime scene investigation. This happened in a trailer park, so our initial concern was to get the neighborhood cleared. There were several shots fired, but there were no other injuries reported,” said Sgt. John Perrine with the Indiana State Police.
“We have a deceased person in the trailer, and the coroner is on scene now. And the coroner will help us identify the deceased person,” he said.
It wasn’t immediately clear how the person inside the trailer died. Nor was it clear that the individual was the person for whom police had originally been looking.
An investigation is ongoing.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence ordered flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Koontz’ funeral.
“Indiana will always honor the memory of Deputy Koontz and will always be grateful for his courageous service. Deputy Koontz lost his life in the line of duty, and his passing reminds us all of the courage and risk that every member of our law enforcement community and their families face every day in the defending our communities,” the governor said in a statement.
“We also offer our gratitude and prayers to Sgt. Jordan Buckley, who was injured during the same incident in the line of duty. We are grateful for his courage and pray that he will make a quick recovery from his injuries and be restored soon to his family and his service to the people of Howard County.”
