A shootout in Russiaville, Indiana, at 12:30 a.m. Sunday left one Howard County officer wounded and a deputy dead.
Officers arrived at a residence just southwest of Kokomo is search of a resident with an outstanding arrest warrant, according to the Indiana State Police press release.
After knocking on the door and announcing their presence, Howard County Sheriff Sergeant Jordan J. Buckley and Deputy Carl A. Koontz were met with gunfire when they entered the house. The officers fired back, according to the press release.
Koontz, 27, and Buckley, 35, were both injured in the exchange, according to the press release. They were then pulled out of the house by a Russiaville officer and other deputies before being transported to Howard Regional Hospital and then airlifted to Methodist Hospital.
As a result of his gunshot wounds, Koontz died Sunday afternoon. Buckley was in stable condition at the time of the Howard County sheriff’s morning press conference.
During the press conference, Howard County Sheriff Steve Rogers said the arrest warrant was for possession of a syringe.
A deceased individual was confirmed in the home but the identity has not been released, according to a press release. Howard County SWAT, Kokomo Police SWAT and Indiana State Police SWAT teams secured the area around the residence.
Indiana State Police will continue the investigation.
Lindsay Moore
