Sheriff: Slain deputy volunteered for duty in which he died
KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - Howard County deputies had no reason to believe a man who shot two of them, fatally wounding one, was any more dangerous than anybody else they would encounter that night, the sheriff said Monday.
The suspect, Evan T. Dorsey, 25, was wanted on a warrant out of neighboring Clinton County for failing to appear for a court hearing on a charge of possession of a syringe, and Deputy Carl Koontz learned Saturday night that Dorsey was at a mobile home in Russiaville, Sheriff Steven Rogers said during a news conference.
"The warrant was really for a minor offense," Rogers said.
Koontz, 27, died Sunday morning hours after being shot in the pelvis and Sgt. Jordan Buckley was wounded in the gunfight inside the mobile home. Other officers later found Dorsey dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
"Deputy Koontz voluntarily worked past his normal shift to further the investigation. He also wanted to be there to assist the other officers in the service of this warrant. That's who Deputy Koontz was," Rogers said.
Cpl. Justin Markley read a statement from the Koontz family at the news conference.
"Today we want to thank you, thank you everyone who has prayed, sent messages, flowers and shown their love to the Koontz family," the statement said.
Koontz's funeral is scheduled for March 29.
Buckley, who was released an Indianapolis hospital on Monday, also read a statement.
"Yesterday, after being released from the hospital, I walked into my house to my wife and kids, and Carl will not be doing that. Deputy Koontz sacrificed his life beside me, which is the reason I stand here today," Buckley said, pausing to maintain his composure at times.
The visitation and funeral for Koontz will be held next week at the high school where he was assigned part-time for the past two years.
The visitation will start at 1 p.m. Monday at Northwestern High School near Kokomo. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. March 29. Burial will be at Albright Cemetery in Kokomo.
Koontz worked twice a week at Northwestern School Corp. as a school resource officer.