I have family in Florence about a mile from where this happened.
The little that they have heard from the local news goes something like this.
3 local officers went to serve a warrant for a guy on a sex assault (possibly against a minor?) and he lives at his dad's. His dad is like a 70yr old Vietnam veteran, (possibly was a sniper) with ptsd.
The home owner may have thought the authorities were coming to take his guns. He wasn't having it and all hell broke loose.
At some point in between 7 officers were shot, 1 passed away and his son(who's warrant was actually being served) was also shot (unsure if he survived or not or even who shot him)
Other family members and kids were in the house at the time.
The wounded and pinned down officers were given cover by a SWAT MRAP. At which point things calmed down somewhat and a negotiator convinced him to surrender. Amazingly and fortunately after all that the guy gave himself up without further loss of life.
The remaining wounded officers are hopeful to pull thru it.
Its also in a very nice neighborhood. One of the nicest neighborhood in the whole area. Just crazy. The whole town is in shock.
"These officers went there unknowing the firepower this suspect had." .. What the hell is that? the seed of saying your entitled to know? ... I'd like 3 Therapists to confirm PTSD before that song gets played. If the guy thought they where coming for his guns Its very relevant.
I don't give a damn if the suspect was a vet with PTSD or not. My heart is not going to bleed for him if he was a mental case for whatever reason. I find almost no excuse strong enough to mitigate out the death penalty in such cases if the guy is found guilty. Mostly though, I also find it too bad the shot that hit the suspect did kill him on the spot.