VIDEO: Florida Officers Lured into Ambush by 911 Caller
Two Lake Wales, Fla., officers were injured in a shooting Tuesday after a 59-year-old man lured police to his home with a 911 call and opened fire, according to law enforcement.
John Goepferich immediately began shooting when officers arrived about 6 p.m. at his home at 743 Hillside Ave. in Lake Wales, Chief Chris Velasquez said.
Officers fired back and a gun battle began. More Lake Wales officers and Polk County deputies arrived to assist, bringing about 50 members of law enforcement to the property. They exchanged gunfire with Goepferich for about 15 minutes, WFTS TV reports.
Officers Benjamin Metz, 38, and John Schwarze, 45, a K-9 handler for Lake Wales Police Department, were wounded, Velasquez said. The bullet that struck Schwarze was stopped by his duty belt. "It was a miracle," said Chief Velasquez at a news conference Wednesday.
Metz was shot in the neck, but was treated and released from the hospital.
Goepferich was shot once in the right arm and once in the left side of the back. His injuries were non-life-threatening.
