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2 officers shot, killed outside Kansas grocery store

Posted at 9:09 AM, Dec 17, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-17 09:09:38-05
David Edward Tiscareno (PHOTO: Topeka Police Department)

David Edward Tiscareno (PHOTO: Topeka Police Department)

By Maggie Schneider

(CNN) — Two Kansas police officers responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle were fatally shot in the head outside a grocery store Sunday night.

A third officer who fired back at the shooter was not injured, said Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller.

Police identified the shooter as David Edward Tiscareno, 22. He managed to escape.

“The community will help us give this guy up,” Miller said, adding that 75 state and local law enforcement officials were working on the case.

Police did not release additional information about what led to the shooter opening fire, or why the vehicle was considered suspicious.

Officer David Gogian (PHOTO:  Topeka Police Department)

Officer David Gogian (PHOTO: Topeka Police Department)

One of the slain policemen is Cpl. David Gogian, 50, who had been with the department for eight years.

The other is Officer Jeff Atherly, 29. He had worked at the department for a year and a half.

Officer Jeff Atherly (PHOTO: Topeka Police Department)

Officer Jeff Atherly (PHOTO: Topeka Police Department)

The Sunday shootings bring the number of police officers killed in the line of duty this year to 120, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

The last line-of-duty death for the Topeka police force was in 2000.

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