David Carson
2017-12-06 16:38:34 UTC
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/hays-county/san-marcos-officer-killed-in-the-line-of-duty-what-we-know/497087002
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - While out serving a warrant Dec. 4, San Marcos
police officer Kenneth Copeland was killed after a man allegedly shot
him multiple times.
Fifty-eight-year-old Copeland was wearing a protective vest while
serving warrant in the El Camino Real subdivision, the city of San
Marcos said. It was described as an ambush-style shooting.
Copeland, who was the first San Marcos officer to be killed in the
line of duty, was taken to Central Texas Medical Center where he
succumbed to his wounds. Justice of the Peace JoAnne Prado pronounced
him deceased at 3:50 p.m. that day.
San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp said San Marcos police officers
and the Hays County SWAT tried to negotiate with the suspect to get
him out of the house peacefully. The suspect eventually came out of
his house and surrendered to officers, but suffered a gunshot wound.
It is not known if the suspect's gunshot wound was self-inflicted or
if police shot him.
The suspect was taken to an Austin hospital for treatment and will be
released into police custody when he is medically stable.
Following the shooting, the officer's body was taken to the Travis
County Medical Examiner's office.
On Tuesday Dec. 5, Copeland's body was escorted from Austin to the
Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos at 3:30 p.m.
Several vehicles from local law enforcement agencies and fire
departments contributed in the escort, which traveled along southbound
Interstate 35 to San Marcos.
Tuesday afternoon, court documents identified the man who was being
served warrants when he allegedly shot Officer Copeland.
According to arrest warrants, Copeland went to the house of
51-year-old Stewart Thomas Mettz to serve a domestic violence warrant
when he was shot several times. Mettz has not been charged in the
shooting yet, officials said.
The shooter is currently in police custody in the hospital.
Copeland, who joined the San Marcos Police Department March 30, 1998,
had served on the department for 19 years and 9 months. He leaves
behind a wife and four sons.
San Marcos Police Chief Stapp said Copeland was the first officer in
the city's history to be killed in the line of duty.
"I want to offer my thanks to all of the members of the Central Texas
Medical Center who tried very hard to save Ken's life," said Chief
Stapp. "They are a part of our family as well and they did a great
job."
Chief Stapp said the loss of Officer Copeland is painful for many in
the police department.
"Ken's a hero. Today was his day off. He worked just about every day
off to provide for his kids and because he knows we're shorthanded and
we need the help," said Chief Stapp. "His picture is hanging in
different parts of this police department because everyone here loved
him."
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - While out serving a warrant Dec. 4, San Marcos
police officer Kenneth Copeland was killed after a man allegedly shot
him multiple times.
Fifty-eight-year-old Copeland was wearing a protective vest while
serving warrant in the El Camino Real subdivision, the city of San
Marcos said. It was described as an ambush-style shooting.
Copeland, who was the first San Marcos officer to be killed in the
line of duty, was taken to Central Texas Medical Center where he
succumbed to his wounds. Justice of the Peace JoAnne Prado pronounced
him deceased at 3:50 p.m. that day.
San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp said San Marcos police officers
and the Hays County SWAT tried to negotiate with the suspect to get
him out of the house peacefully. The suspect eventually came out of
his house and surrendered to officers, but suffered a gunshot wound.
It is not known if the suspect's gunshot wound was self-inflicted or
if police shot him.
The suspect was taken to an Austin hospital for treatment and will be
released into police custody when he is medically stable.
Following the shooting, the officer's body was taken to the Travis
County Medical Examiner's office.
On Tuesday Dec. 5, Copeland's body was escorted from Austin to the
Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos at 3:30 p.m.
Several vehicles from local law enforcement agencies and fire
departments contributed in the escort, which traveled along southbound
Interstate 35 to San Marcos.
Tuesday afternoon, court documents identified the man who was being
served warrants when he allegedly shot Officer Copeland.
According to arrest warrants, Copeland went to the house of
51-year-old Stewart Thomas Mettz to serve a domestic violence warrant
when he was shot several times. Mettz has not been charged in the
shooting yet, officials said.
The shooter is currently in police custody in the hospital.
Copeland, who joined the San Marcos Police Department March 30, 1998,
had served on the department for 19 years and 9 months. He leaves
behind a wife and four sons.
San Marcos Police Chief Stapp said Copeland was the first officer in
the city's history to be killed in the line of duty.
"I want to offer my thanks to all of the members of the Central Texas
Medical Center who tried very hard to save Ken's life," said Chief
Stapp. "They are a part of our family as well and they did a great
job."
Chief Stapp said the loss of Officer Copeland is painful for many in
the police department.
"Ken's a hero. Today was his day off. He worked just about every day
off to provide for his kids and because he knows we're shorthanded and
we need the help," said Chief Stapp. "His picture is hanging in
different parts of this police department because everyone here loved
him."
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - While out serving a warrant Dec. 4, San Marcos
police officer Kenneth Copeland was killed after a man allegedly shot
him multiple times.
Fifty-eight-year-old Copeland was wearing a protective vest while
serving warrant in the El Camino Real subdivision, the city of San
Marcos said. It was described as an ambush-style shooting.
Copeland, who was the first San Marcos officer to be killed in the
line of duty, was taken to Central Texas Medical Center where he
succumbed to his wounds. Justice of the Peace JoAnne Prado pronounced
him deceased at 3:50 p.m. that day.
San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp said San Marcos police officers
and the Hays County SWAT tried to negotiate with the suspect to get
him out of the house peacefully. The suspect eventually came out of
his house and surrendered to officers, but suffered a gunshot wound.
It is not known if the suspect's gunshot wound was self-inflicted or
if police shot him.
The suspect was taken to an Austin hospital for treatment and will be
released into police custody when he is medically stable.
Following the shooting, the officer's body was taken to the Travis
County Medical Examiner's office.
On Tuesday Dec. 5, Copeland's body was escorted from Austin to the
Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos at 3:30 p.m.
Several vehicles from local law enforcement agencies and fire
departments contributed in the escort, which traveled along southbound
Interstate 35 to San Marcos.
Tuesday afternoon, court documents identified the man who was being
served warrants when he allegedly shot Officer Copeland.
According to arrest warrants, Copeland went to the house of
51-year-old Stewart Thomas Mettz to serve a domestic violence warrant
when he was shot several times. Mettz has not been charged in the
shooting yet, officials said.
The shooter is currently in police custody in the hospital.
Copeland, who joined the San Marcos Police Department March 30, 1998,
had served on the department for 19 years and 9 months. He leaves
behind a wife and four sons.
San Marcos Police Chief Stapp said Copeland was the first officer in
the city's history to be killed in the line of duty.
"I want to offer my thanks to all of the members of the Central Texas
Medical Center who tried very hard to save Ken's life," said Chief
Stapp. "They are a part of our family as well and they did a great
job."
Chief Stapp said the loss of Officer Copeland is painful for many in
the police department.
"Ken's a hero. Today was his day off. He worked just about every day
off to provide for his kids and because he knows we're shorthanded and
we need the help," said Chief Stapp. "His picture is hanging in
different parts of this police department because everyone here loved
him."
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - While out serving a warrant Dec. 4, San Marcos
police officer Kenneth Copeland was killed after a man allegedly shot
him multiple times.
Fifty-eight-year-old Copeland was wearing a protective vest while
serving warrant in the El Camino Real subdivision, the city of San
Marcos said. It was described as an ambush-style shooting.
Copeland, who was the first San Marcos officer to be killed in the
line of duty, was taken to Central Texas Medical Center where he
succumbed to his wounds. Justice of the Peace JoAnne Prado pronounced
him deceased at 3:50 p.m. that day.
San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp said San Marcos police officers
and the Hays County SWAT tried to negotiate with the suspect to get
him out of the house peacefully. The suspect eventually came out of
his house and surrendered to officers, but suffered a gunshot wound.
It is not known if the suspect's gunshot wound was self-inflicted or
if police shot him.
The suspect was taken to an Austin hospital for treatment and will be
released into police custody when he is medically stable.
Following the shooting, the officer's body was taken to the Travis
County Medical Examiner's office.
On Tuesday Dec. 5, Copeland's body was escorted from Austin to the
Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos at 3:30 p.m.
Several vehicles from local law enforcement agencies and fire
departments contributed in the escort, which traveled along southbound
Interstate 35 to San Marcos.
Tuesday afternoon, court documents identified the man who was being
served warrants when he allegedly shot Officer Copeland.
According to arrest warrants, Copeland went to the house of
51-year-old Stewart Thomas Mettz to serve a domestic violence warrant
when he was shot several times. Mettz has not been charged in the
shooting yet, officials said.
The shooter is currently in police custody in the hospital.
Copeland, who joined the San Marcos Police Department March 30, 1998,
had served on the department for 19 years and 9 months. He leaves
behind a wife and four sons.
San Marcos Police Chief Stapp said Copeland was the first officer in
the city's history to be killed in the line of duty.
"I want to offer my thanks to all of the members of the Central Texas
Medical Center who tried very hard to save Ken's life," said Chief
Stapp. "They are a part of our family as well and they did a great
job."
Chief Stapp said the loss of Officer Copeland is painful for many in
the police department.
"Ken's a hero. Today was his day off. He worked just about every day
off to provide for his kids and because he knows we're shorthanded and
we need the help," said Chief Stapp. "His picture is hanging in
different parts of this police department because everyone here loved
him."