Lance Storz, 49, was taken into custody following the shootout in Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Three Kentucky police officers and a police canine were killed and at least four other officers were injured following a shootout in a residential area in the city of Prestonsburg Thursday night, police said.

Prestonsburg Police Capt. Ralph Frasure and Deputy William Petry were identified among the deceased, as well as K9 Drago and Canine Handler Jacob Chaffins, Kentucky State Police said.

Lance Storz, 49, was taken into custody following a shootout at his home, as two officers arrived to serve him an arrest warrant shortly before 7 p.m. Storz, armed with a rifle, opened fire and struck both officers, the Prestonsburg Police Department said.

Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt told reporters Friday that the officers encountered “pure hell” when they arrived on the scene, saying they had “no chance.”

Other officers from different jurisdictions responded to the incident and at least four were injured, they added.

“It’s heartbreaking, you know, anytime you have a loss of life,” Trooper Matt Gayheart of Kentucky State Police told Fox 56. “Not only did I work with these people, these were our friends, and as a community, we have to stick together and push through it together. And we do ask everybody to keep those officers in your thoughts and prayers.”

“Jake and K9 Nelson completed two weeks of partnered training in Little Rock, Arkansas, where the duo became “nationally certified in drug detection, tracking, and patrol apprehension,” the city of Prestonsburg said.

Nelson was a Belgian Malinois, born Jan. 20, 2020. “Nelson began training for a career as a service dog at birth and was imported to the United States this past July where he began specific fields of training and screening,” the city added.

Captain Frasure commanded the Special Projects Division, which contains School Resource and Safety, Criminal Investigations and Interdiction Squad, and Training & Preparedness, the city of Prestonsburg said.

Ptl. Jake Chaffins & K9 Nelson were killed during a shootout on June 30, 2022. (City of Prestonsburg).