The Lancaster Police Department released body camera footage and a 911 call recording on social media after a double homicide and officer-involved shooting at a North Broad Street residence in Lancaster, Ohio. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday, led to the death of two individuals and critical injuries to a third, with the suspect, Kyle Varney, 26, now facing multiple charges, including murder and felonious assault. According to the Lancaster Police Department's Facebook post, the situation escalated quickly after officers responded to a behavioral emergency call at 5:29 p.m.
Reportedly, the initial 911 call did not indicate violence or weapon access; it emphasized the need for an evaluation of Varney's unusual behavior. However, upon their arrival, an officer from the Lancaster Police Department was met with a scene of imminent danger as a female screamed for help, running towards him, and Varney, stationed 90 feet away, fired at another woman. As stated by Lancaster PD in the obtained footage, "the LPD officer immediately returned fire and Varney’s progress toward the female was halted as Varney’s weapon was discarded to the ground."
While backup officers worked to secure the scene, Varney re-emerged from the residence, this time without a weapon. Officers commanded him to surrender and, after complying, Varney's injuries were assessed, revealing he had been shot at least once. The gravely wounded female was provided care on the spot by police officers before being whisked away in their patrol car to receive further medical attention at an area hospital in Columbus.
It was during the subsequent search within the household that officers discovered two deceased individuals, both with apparent gunshot wounds. In a tragic ripple of events, the consequences of which reached far beyond the residence's walls, Kyle Varney was charged yesterday with two counts of murder and six counts of felonious assault, each count bearing gun specifications, as detailed by the Lancaster Police Department announcement.
