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Sheriff details events leading up to Floyd Co. mass shooting

Sheriff details events leading up to Floyd Co. mass shooting

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky (WSAZ) — During a press conference Sunday, Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt shared events that led up to a violent, deadly standoff that occurred Thursday evening in the community of Allen.

The incident described by officials as a ‘war zone’ claimed the lives of three officers, a K-9 officer and injured four other people, including additional police officers.

Lance Storz is in the Pike County Detention Center on a $10 million cash bond facing several charges, including two counts of murder of a police officer. He also faces charges in connection with the death of K-9 Drago who served with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department. A not guilty plea was entered on Storz’s behalf during a virtual court hearing.

Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt said Sunday the incident began Thursday, June 30 after the sheriff’s office received a phone call about a woman being held against her will.

When deputies arrived at the home in question near the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Street for a welfare check, a woman was waiting outside and ran to their cruisers, according to Sheriff Hunt.

The woman told deputies Lance Storz was inside the home and she was only able to leave because he was asleep.

Deputies retrieved the woman’s daughter who was at another home and took them both to a safe place, Sheriff Hunt reports.

While being interviewed, the woman accused Storz of taking her phone and holding her hostage inside the home for days.

Sheriff Hunt said the woman told deputies the only time she was able to use a phone was when Storz was sleeping. That is when she said she was able to contact a relative for help. That relative then called the sheriff’s department, Sheriff Hunt says.

Following the woman’s interview with officials, an Emergency Protection Order was filed.

Details about why protective order filed against mass shooting suspect

The woman accused Storz of emotional and physical abuse, including rape. She also warned deputies by telling them that Storz had guns inside the home, the press conference Sunday revealed.

“The woman did say that Mr. Storz had firearms in the house. Deputies didn’t know at that time, obviously how many or to what extent his training was or if he had any,” said Sheriff Hunt.

An examination at the hospital did show signs of physical assault, deputies say.

Sheriff Hunt said Sunday a total of four deputies went to the home Thursday to serve the Emergency Protection Order and arrest Storz for fourth degree physical assault.

Deputies got their first glimpse of Storz in a window behind blinds when they first approached the home.

Deputy William Petry, a victim of Thursday’s shootout, was the first to go up to the house, Sheriff Hunt reported.

Hunt said Storz opened the door ‘like he had been waiting for police’ and started firing.

Sheriff Hunt tells WSAZ.com Storz was wearing a bullet proof vest and backpack when he started firing at police.

“The suspect opened the door like he had been waiting for them,” said Hunt. “He knew they were coming.”

Sheriff Hunt said at least one officer was forced to hide underneath his police vehicle for hours to avoid being shot.

“Deputy Lawson would have been the fourth car,” said Hunt. “Deputy Hall was the third car. Deputy Hall was able to roll out of his car and he was to the rear of the K-9 vehicle driven by deputy Newsome. Deputy Hall rolled under the car and remained hidden there for hours to come. When Deputy Lawson rolled out of his vehicle he was immediately shot.”

Names of others injured in mass shooting released

Deputy William Petry with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department, Capt. Ralph Frasure with the Prestonsburg Police Department and Prestonsburg Police Officer Jacob R. Chaffins all died as a result of their injuries sustained during the shootout.

Three law enforcement officers were shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday.
Three law enforcement officers were shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday.(WSAZ)

For previous coverage >>> CLICK HERE.

A vigil is planned Sunday evening to honor Petry, Frasure and Chaffins at the Prestonsburg High School.

TAP HERE FOR VIGIL INFORMATION

Officials described Thursday’s shooting as the deadliest law enforcement death in Kentucky since the prison riot in Eddyville in 1924 and the deadliest law enforcement event to happen in Eastern Kentucky.

This is a developing story.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.

Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

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Royal Manitoba Winter Fair cancels pig and calf scrambles after animal protection group speaks out

Royal Manitoba Winter Fair cancels pig and calf scrambles after animal protection group speaks out


The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is doing away with hog and calf scrambles at its event next week after animal welfare organizations said such events violate federal and provincial animal cruelty laws.


The fair is set to run March 29 to April 2 in Brandon, Man.


“The health and welfare of our animals is important to us and has always been a top priority,” Provincial Exhibition President Kathy Cleaver said in a statement posted online.


“We are excited about having the fair back this year and can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.”


This comes after the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) and national animal law organization Animal Justice put out a call last week for the public to contact fair organizers to have the scrambles cancelled.


“This decision is a step in the right direction, and we feel that it positively reflects the values and the opinions of many Manitobans who no longer tolerate animal scramble events,” said Brittany Semeniuk, an animal welfare consultant with the Winnipeg Humane Society.


According to the WHS and Animal Justice, pig scrambles, also known as “pig wrestling” typically involve kids chasing and trying to grab and hold pigs to stop them from breaking free. The calf scrambles involve teens chasing and grabbing calves to remove a halter from their neck.


Kaitlyn Mitchell, staff lawyer with Animal Justice, said the practice could be seen as illegal because it causes distress and suffering to animals.


“So that means not only physical injuries, although there is certainly a risk of physical injuries here when you have children chasing and tackling animals, but it’s also illegal to cause extreme anxiety and distress to animals. And that’s really at their core what these events do,” Mithchell said.


“You release these baby animals into a ring, and you encourage youth to chase them around and tackle them, and there’s no good reason for it. On top of that, this is just for entertainment.”


Mitchell said after issuing a call to the public to contact organizers to have the events cancelled, about 640 people took action through Animal Justice’s alert. The WHS also put out an alert and created an online petition that was signed by over 600 people.