Two Topeka, Kan., police officers slain outside grocery store

Officials stand outside a Topeka, Kan., grocery store, where two police officers where killed in a shootout on Dec. 16, 2012. / WIBW-TV

Updated 2:05 a.m. EST

TOPEKA, Kan. Two Topeka Kansas police officers were fatally shot outside a grocery store Sunday while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle, authorities said.

Topeka Police Chief Ronald Miller called the shootings of Cpl. David Gogian and Officer Jeff Atherly "unspeakable." He said both Gogian, 50, and Atherly, 29, were shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire on them within minutes of their arrival to investigate the vehicle.

"It's clearly beyond words. It's unspeakable almost about why this happens and why this is happening in America at this stage in our history," Miller said.

Police were searching for a 22-year-old man believed to have been the one who fired on the officers from the vehicle. He remained at large Sunday night. Miller didn't know the motive for the shooting but said the suspect has a criminal history, though he wouldn't elaborate.

A third officer who went to the scene to check on the vehicle was not injured in the shooting.

Gogian and Atherly were taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

The call about the vehicle came shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, police said. Gogian and Atherly had arrived as backup for another officer when someone in the vehicle they were investigating started shooting.

"I don't believe they had any idea this situation was going to go this direction as quickly as it did," Miller said.

A witness told CBS Topeka affiliate WIBW-TV he heard three gun clips emptied, then heard another series of shots.

The station says a neighbor told the Topeka Capital-Journal he heard several shots fired.

He said there was more than one person in the vehicle, which later was found outside a house about 10 blocks from the grocery store. Officers searched the home but didn't find the shooting suspect.

The chief declined to say why officers were investigating the vehicle and why it was considered suspicious.

A small crowd met for a candlelight vigil Sunday night outside police headquarters after hearing about the shooting. As the group gathered, police officials announced to reporters nearby that the officers had died.

Gogian started with the Topeka Police Department in September 2004. Atherly had been with the department since April 2011.

Miller said Gogian was a retired military serviceman. It wasn't immediately clear what branch of the military. He has a son who's also a Topeka police officer.

"He had spent his life in service to his country and in the city of Topeka," the chief said.

Meanwhile, Atherly was "just getting started" in his career, he said.

The last time a Topeka officer was killed in the line of duty was 2000, and it's been longer than that, since 1995, that one was fatally shot on the job.

[mrcamillon]

i dont have a gun do not want a gun iam aginst gun control short of rocket launchers ad anti air craft weapons i truly belive if guns are out lawed only out laws will have guns

[jmGW10]

To those who are dead set against gun ownership by the law abiding Americans:

I would like to know how you feel about methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, X,and all other dangerous illicit drugs. Are you all aware that these drugs are illegal to posess, manufacture, transport, etc in every one of the 50 US states and Puerto Rico? Do these drugs still exist and continue to kill Americans on a daily basis? Do you believe that making guns illegal to own will actually make them go away? NO! It will only keep guns in the hands of the criminals. Just because we put a pretty littlesign that says you cannot carry a gun into the bank, does it stop the bank robber from robbng it with a gun?

As a sworn, full time law enforcement officer I have seen violence commited at the hands of criminals with knives, baseball bats, rocks, writing pens, fists, feet and I could go on and on. Are people really so disillusioned in America today and brainwashed by the socialist left that they really believe outlawing guns will rid us of needless violence? It will not! Man has been killing man since time began, with whatever they had available at that time.

I feel for every victim of needless violence and do what I can to stop those who commit it. Our nation is mourning the loss of the many lives lost over the last few days. The police officers killed by this scumbag did not deserve to die for doing their job protecting the public just as the civilans killed in Conn. and everywhere else did not deserve to die needlessly.

[mrcamillon]

they american goverment has laws that are so stupid like smoking pot i dont and i think putting people in jail for smoking is dum our first president is said to smoke if you read there writings from that peroid it was deep those guys were on the bud no other country on the planet earth has more of its citicens in prison then U.S.A.

[foo8259]

Goes to show even police officers can be blindsided and taken buy surprise. So what chance would an average armed citizen with a 12 hr training class and a CCL have in a gunfight? If you carry a gun then you have to practice, practice, practice and maintain your weapon and always have it at the ready -- even in the shower. I believe martial arts training, if you can do it, is a better option for close in social situations and it's always with you.

[mrcamillon]

i try to avoid the crime people and were they live

[sweetcakesmaria]

As long as we value our rights over our safety, there is allways going to be gun violence. Japan was once a very violent nation until they cleaned up the gun laws an abolished the ownership of guns.

[mrcamillon]

japan General George Mcarthy staff wrote there constitution

[_-Queequeg-_]

JIM6555: good on you for pointing out sensationalism causes hysteria. You can also look toward the automobile crashes. Those deaths have become so common place, they are seldom mentioned and yet 40,000 die and twice as many seriously injured each and every year here in the USA.

[mrcamillon]

there is a whole lot of difference between a car wreck and the cold blooded murder of police officers

[SJames6621]

And hold everyone in the chain of possession of that gun which could have been disassembled and tossed out piece by piece in trash or given to the police...........Responsible for the murders as accessories before the fact . Which btw makes them = to the trigger pullers under the law.

Repubs and guns are like a religion. Eg that baptist preacher Huckabee of hte bible belt said last year at a conference called "renewing god in america"

We've got to get them to pray - at the point of a gun if necessary -

Welcome to the mad mindset of the ocmbination of repulican extremist relgious beliefs and the mostly NRA repubs.

BTW the so. Baptists claim to support life. Just another BS. They actually have a treaty with the vatican (concordant) and we dont hear anything from the pope except demonizing and dehumanizing gay people.

Doing his share to create suicide of gay kids -3000 a year like 9-11, 9-11,, 9-11 etc

[Gunz2Fun]

Your so full of BS that your eyes are brown.

[mrcamillon]

if what you say is true people allready worship there posesions so what does this have to do with the murder of police officers

[JDSP]

Wow, some of these replies show "poster-childs" for needing more gun control....
For those who somehow have their statistics twisted- the U.S. is far on top per equalizing population for gun injuries which include death.
And by this time, I would think everyone could agree that SOME kind of effort to reduce especially war-guns from getting into the wrong hands is logical. If it prevented even a FEW innocents being killed- isn't that worth at least some required training or screening??
If you can't even agree on that, maybe you belong in some other place with other extremists... Even my ex-military gun-loving roommate agrees there needs to be something more than there is now.

[mrcamillon]

the founding fathers were thinking of making it a law ever house had to have a gun and no how to use it like you never point a gun at some thing you do not want to shoot explain to children the value of life and guns can kill

[soshaljustice]

Oh, the criminal got away? You mean, just another instance where it was a lost chance for a gun-carrying citizen to intervene has gone by once again? What is wrong with that false scenario that is being marketed by the GOP& the NRA in the hopes some decent gun legislation will be averted? Does the GOP and the NRA really want a citizenry to enter this fray by pulling out guns and taking the law into their own hands? Time to get rid of the GOP and the NRA, return to the courts what is the courts and the people' what is the people.' Get rid of the menace of society, all this metal armament!

Yes, you can learn to hate and fear, feel the need of your guns. Try learn how to love again, you have lost your ethics and morals. You have given them up freely in your foolish youth. Recall, some of us never did relinquish ours. Instead we watched how, when you slink over to the gun sales counter to fulfill your paranoia fear, assuage the lingering hate, it was you, gun owner, that felt the satisfaction. Now you feel fear that you may have to give up that gun. It does not keep you safe, it never did. Your love for another stranger keeps you safe. Work on that. Foster that stranger love. Forego your fear and hate.

[everyone_is_an_expert]

So banning guns or whatever would STOP bad guys from obtaining them and doing terrible things? Kind of like making cocaine illegal? That worked great, too. Guns are illegal in many countries, and look at their homicide rates. Some are worse than the US. Do some research. This country has some very serious issues, but making a firearm illegal wont fix them. They are illegal in Mexico.......

[Agent-XXXX]

Hey dumbphuck...he shot two cops.

Was there a person on the scene with a concealed carry permit.

Maybe we should be getting rid of the folks who are inclined to do such things..as in put them away for good.

You're kind of a idiot.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

People are tired of living in fear gun violence that the republicans and NRA's wild wild west gun culture mentally has wrought on our great nation. Gun violence has to be addressed. Do not let republicans or the NRA dissuade you Mr. President the country has your back on this.

[Agent-XXXX]

And 70% of all gun related violence is committed by black men and they are usually repeat offenders. So yeah, let's have that discussion about what blacks gun culture has wrought on our great nation. This violence has to be addressed. The country has your back on this.

[FactCheckOrgUser]

Agent 4x please state your proof of your post about black men. Because if memory serves me correct, 99% of serial/spree/mass killers are WHITE!

[UForgotPoland]

3 shootings in one week is pretty bad.

[Jim6555]

That's three shootings that made the headlines throughout the nation and the world. There were many, many more that occurred but were not spectacular enough to be picked up my the national media. We need to better regulate guns and end the violence.

[greengeekgirl]

Mm, actually, it's more like six that have made national news. Oregon mall, CT school, Vegas casino, Alabama hospital, California (mall?), and now this shooting.