Two police officers were fatally shot outside a grocery store in Topeka while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle, authorities said.
Topeka Police Chief Ronald Miller called the Sunday night shootings of Cpl. David Gogian and Officer Jeff Atherly “unspeakable.” He said Gogian, 50, and Atherly, 29, were both shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire on them within minutes of their arrival to investigate the vehicle.
“It’s clearly beyond words. It’s unspeakable almost about why this happens and why this is happening in America at this stage in our history,” Miller said.
Police were searching for a 22-year-old man whom they believe fired on the officers from the vehicle. The suspect has been identified as David Edward Tiscareno, 22, of Topeka. He is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. The suspect vehicle was located in front of a house and authorities searched and the suspect was not located.
Early Monday, law enforcement officers surrounded a house in Topeka in an almost two-hour standoff during which shots were fired. Officers eventually removed a man whom KMBC-TV described as the suspect in the shooting. by John Hanna, Associated Press