Storz pleads not guilty in officer killings

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PRESTONSBURG — The Allen man charged with the fatal shootings of three police officers and K-9 Drago, as well as the injury of a multitude of others in a shootout on June 30, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday in Floyd Circuit Court.

A pretrial conference for Lance Stotz is scheduled on Feb. 19, 2023.

Storz, 49, was represented by attorney Kim Green, who also asked about a motion to preserve all evidence that the defense filed, to which there was no objection by the commonwealth. Green said she would send the motion via email.

Storz was originally scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 1, but the hearing had to be rescheduled due to flooding in Floyd County.

A 20-count indictment charges Storz with three counts of murder for the intentional killing of Floyd County Deputy William Petry, and Prestonsburg police officers Ralph Frasure and Jake Chaffins; two counts of first-degree assault for shooting Floyd County Deputy Darrin Lawson and DES Director Joe Reynolds; six counts of criminal attempt to commit murder when he shot at Prestonsburg police officer Keith Duncan, Floyd County Deputy Darrin Lawson, Floyd County Deputy Chris Hall, Floyd County Deputy Dusty Newsome, Kentucky State Police Billy Ball and Constable Gary Wolfe, with the intent to cause their death; seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for shooting into a vehicle where Joe Reynolds was an occupant, for shooting in the direction of Prestonsburg Police Officer Keagan Williams, for shooting into the vehicle in which Prestonsburg Police Officer Dennis Hutchinson was an occupant, for shooting in the direction of Kentucky State Police Officer Bailey Combs, for shooting in the direction of Kentucky State Police Michael McKinney, for shooting in the direction of Floyd County Deputy Adam Dixon, for shooting in the direction of Constable Gary Nelson; first-degree assault on a service animal, when he intentionally killed Floyd County K-9 Officer Drag, by shooting him; and fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, when he intentionally caused physical injury to Christina Storz when he struck her.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner has not yet said whether he will pursue the death penalty in the case.

Storz’s bond of $10 million remained the same following Monday’s arraignment, and he remains lodged in the Pike County Detention Center on a $10 million bond.