TERRE HAUTE — A Terre Haute Police Department officer was ambushed and fatally shot and killed Wednesday afternoon outside an FBI building in Terre Haute, according to state police and the FBI.
Detective Greg Ferency, a 30 year veteran of the department, was shot and killed, according to Terre Haute police. Ferency was also a member of an FBI Task Force since 2010.
Around 2:15 p.m., Ferency was shot at the FBI Indianapolis Resident Agency in Terre Haute, FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said in a statement.
In an update Wednesday morning, Keenan said the suspect arrived before Ferency left the building and shot the officer after he came outside.
An agent inside the facility heard the gunshots, went outside and fired at the suspect, who was hit by gunfire. The suspect, who has not been identified, drove himself to Terre Haute Regional Hospital where he underwent surgery and is in custody.
The suspect has not been able to provide a statement due to his injuries. He will face federal charges because the shooting occurred on federal property. Search warrants were executed at his home and evidence was collected.
Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said Ferency "was a good man."
"We lost a true public servant today and I don't say that as a cliche statement," he said. "We owe Greg a debt of gratitude that will likely never be able to be repaid."
Carter said this is the third Terre Haute police officer to die in a "very violent way" in the last 10 years.
"It's not a good time to be a police officer in America," he said. "But this is an example of someone who would die for someone who hates who they are. We're not bad people."
"We want to extend our deepest sympathy to TFO Ferency’s family, friends and fellow officers," Keenan said.
The suspect, who hasn't been identified, was shot by an FBI agent, Keenan said. The suspect is in custody at a hospital and receiving medical attention.
Carter said the FBI is investigating the incident because of where the shooting happened.
The FBI and the chief of the Terre Haute Police Department are expected to provide more information on the case Thursday, Carter said.
The incident is still under investigation trying to answer several remaining questions, Carter said.
Keenan said the shooting is under investigation by the FBI's Inspection Division, which is in accordance with FBI policy. He said the review process is "thorough and objective" and is "conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.”
"There are going to be a lot of questions, as there should be, please don't speculate on what those answers might be and understand that there could be information out there that's not completely accurate," he said. "I think after tomorrow when you hear from the special agent in charge of the FBI here in Indianapolis and from the Terre Haute police chief, you'll get some more fact. Not what they think, you deserve to know what we know not what we think."
The shooting in Terre Haute comes just hours after three law enforcement officers were shot in Chicago.
"We look around the country and it seems like it's happening every single day and I don't know when it's going to stop," Carter said. "I don't understand it. I don't understand it."
You can read the full statement from FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan below:
Today, at approximately 2:15 p.m., FBI Task Force Officer Greg Ferency was ambushed and fatally shot at the FBI Indianapolis Resident Agency in Terre Haute. TFO Ferency was a 30-year veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department and had been a federal task force officer since 2010. We want to extend our deepest sympathy to TFO Ferency’s family, friends and fellow officers. An FBI agent shot and wounded the suspect who is currently in custody receiving medical attention at a local hospital. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under investigation by the FBI’s Inspection Division. The review process is thorough and objective and is conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb released the following statement:
The tragic events that unfolded today are senseless. Our heart breaks for Detective Greg Ferency's family, loved ones and those who served with him every day protecting the residents of the Wabash Valley. Janet and I are thinking of the Terre Haute Police Department, the community and Detective Ferency's family as I know they will be steadfast in honoring his life, service and dedication to the residents of Vigo County.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch released the following statement:
I want to send my heartfelt prayers to Terre Haute and Hoosier law enforcement across Indiana, after learning of the violent and careless assault on Terre Haute Police Detective Greg Ferency. Attacks on the brave men and women who answer the call to be our heroes and protect our citizens and state will not be tolerated.
Detective Ferency was an honorable servant, who kept drugs off our streets and partnered with federal authorities to defend Hoosiers and his community. I am keeping Ferency's family and those who worked side by side with him during his 30 years of service in my thoughts as we come together to honor his commitment to making Indiana a safer place.
