Police: 2 officers shot by man who called 911 seeking help

Author: Associated Press
Published:
MGN Online

LAKE WALES, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say a 59-year-old man who called 911 asking for help shot at police officers as they arrived at his central Florida home.

Lake Wales police Chief Chris Velasquez says officers John Schwarze and Benjamin Metz were wounded in a gun battle that lasted about 15 minutes Tuesday evening. Velazquez says that “by the grace of God,” the officers weren’t killed.

Velasquez says John Goepferich was shot by police officers. His injuries were not life-threatening. Officers don’t know why he started shooting.

Preliminary reports indicate Goepferich told dispatchers shots had been fired at his house. About 50 police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded.

Goepferich faces multiple counts of attempted murder of law enforcement officers. He couldn’t be reached for comment, and it wasn’t known whether he had hired an attorney.

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