Captain Ralph Frasure
Officer: Prestonsburg Police Department, Captain Ralph Harlow Frasure
Date: 6/30/2022 Location: Allen, KY FACTORS (1,2,7,15,17,18,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Lance Preston Storz
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Storz had prior criminal cases in Florida for shooting at an animal, domestic violence, eviction, and damages. / Yes, Storz had recently abused his wife and was about to be arrested for domestic assault.
Mental Illness: None stated.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/49
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At some time before 6:30 p.m. on June 30, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to Lance Storz’s house to serve him with an emergency order of protection and arrest him for assault. Just hours earlier a 911 call alerted authorities to the fact Storz was sexually and physically abusing his wife while holding her hostage. Upon the officers’ initial response to the house, they found Storz’s wife waiting outside. The wife informed the officers Storz was asleep inside the house and she requested they take her away from the house, which they did. After interviewing Storz’s wife, the decision was made to return to the house and take Storz into custody.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Storz wife warned the officers her husband had weapons and had said “he had nothing to lose and was all in.” Those were not empty threats as Storz was awake when the officers returned and he opened fire on them with a rifle from inside the house as they approached it. Captain Frasure and Deputy William Petry were immediately killed by the gunfire and PO Jacob Chaffins succumbed to his gunshot wounds the next day. PO Chaffins K9 Drago was also fatally shot at the scene.
Reactions by the police: Multiple agencies including the Kentucky State Police and ATF responded, surrounded the house and exchanged fire with Storz for several hours. Three more LEOs and a civilian suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds before Storz eventually surrendered.
How murdered? Captain Frasure was ambushed and fatally shot while serving a domestic violence arrest warrant.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? The officers who initially responded to Storz’s house could have secured him for their safety while he was sleeping and then arrested him upon getting a statement from his wife.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? NA, Captain Frasure was ambushed and never had a chance to use deadly force.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Storz surrendered, was arrested and has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder of police officers and the police dog.
