Two Indiana sheriff's officers were shot, one fatally, while serving warrants early on Sunday morning in Howard County north of Indianapolis. The suspected shooter was killed.
Howard County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Koontz, 27, died from wounds from a shooting at a home in Russiaville, just west of Kokomo, law enforcement officials told the Kokomo Tribune. Howard County Sheriff's Sgt. Jordan Buckley, 35, was also shot at the home.
The identity of the suspected shooter, which the Kokomo Tribune said was found dead at the scene after the shooting, has not been released. The officers along with law enforcement from the Kokomo Police Department and other departments were serving the warrant about 12:30 a.m. when the shooting happened.
Howard County Sheriff Steven Rogers told the
Indianapolis Star that Koontz and Buckley entered the residence after announcing themselves at the home and receiving no answer.
Rogers said Koontz and Buckley returned gunfire but did not say how the suspect inside the home died.
"A Russiaville officer and other deputies were able to extract the wounded officers from the residence and provide first aid," said an Indiana State Police statement. "Both Koontz and Buckley were transported initially to Howard Regional Hospital, stabilized and then airlifted to (Indiana University) Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis."
Koontz later died from his injuries after surgery, according to the Star. The Tribune said Sunday that Buckley was in stable condition.
"We regret to inform that Deputy Carl Koontz has passed away from his injuries sustained in the gunfire, please keep the personnel of the Howard County Sheriff's Department in your thoughts during this difficult time," said the
sheriff's department Facebook page. "A temporary memorial has been set up outside the Howard County Sheriff’s Department for people wishing to pay their respects."