2 officers shot after gunman lures them to house

WTSP-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.

LAKE WALES, Fla. — A man called 911 to lure law enforcement officers to a house on Tuesday and then opened fire on them wounding two of the officers, according to Lake Wales police.

John Goepferich, 59, called 911 about 5:55 p.m. ET and reported gunshots coming from his residence at 743 Hillside Ave.

Lake Wales officers arrived on the scene and immediately came under fire. More than 100 rounds were fired in the gun battle that lasted about 15 minutes.

Goepferich was wounded in the exchange and is hospitalized. He was armed with a handgun.

Two officers were shot — John Schwarze, 45, and Benjamin Metz, 38. Both have non-life threatening injuries.

Goepferich's daughter is a Polk County deputy.

One witness told WTSP-TV that he heard police say, "Drop it," and then the shooting started. He said there was a pause, and then more shooting.

A mother said she was home with her children, when she thought she heard firecrackers exploding. The children came inside and then she saw Polk County deputies with guns drawn. She moved all of the children into the bathroom.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, neighbors heard more than three dozen shots fired.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is assisting with the investigation.