Officer Kenneth Copeland was shot and killed in an ambush while attempting to serve an arrest warrant.

Officer Kenneth Copeland of the San Marcos, Texas police department was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a violent crime. At a press conference Chief Chase Stapp said the suspect opened fire on the officers in an “much like in an ambush type of situation.” Officer Copeland was struck several times. Immediately after the shooting responding officer extracted Officer Copeland and transported him to the hospital in a police car where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect later surrendered to officer and was suffering from a gunshot wound.

Officer Copeland was a 19 year veteran of the San Marcos police department and leaves behind a wife and four children.  He is the first San Marcos police officer to be killed in the line of duty.