TERRE HAUTE - Indiana State Police are investigating the death of a Terre Haute police officer who was shot while an arrest warrant was being served Monday afternoon. The shooting suspect also died in the gun battle.
According to police, six-year veteran Officer Brent Long was shot inside a home at 1812 North 8th Street in Terre Haute while serving an arrest warrant with the US Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force and the Indiana State Police. Long was taken to Terre Haute Union Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
An autopsy determined that Long died from a gunshot wound to the head. Officer Long sustained two gunshot wounds to the head, one of which was fatal. The caliber and type of weapon will not be released at this time.
Investigators believe the suspect opened fire on the officers within seconds of entering the home. It is also believed that Officer Long returned fire after being shot.
"The officers were met with gunfire within seconds after entering that residence, but the officers were able to return some gunfire," said ISP Sgt. Joe Watts.
Dozens of Terre Haute police officers stood at attention Tuesday, saluting Officer Long's casket.
"Just a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to be around and, like I said, it's a huge loss to Terre Haute," said Det. Rick Decker, Terre Haute Police Department.
"All of us went home last night. He didn't," said Watts.
A combination of heat and emotion was enough to bring one patrolman to his knees and, later, to the ground.
Police say the shooting suspect, Shaun M. Seeley, 33, died at the scene. Seeley was the person wanted on the original warrant the officers were attempting serve. Police say he has an extensive criminal history, but for non-violent offenses. Over the past decade, he has served prison time for assisting a criminal, possession of marijuana and dealing cocaine.
Tuesday's warrant was for a parole violation after he was accused of receiving stolen property. That offense likely would have landed him back in prison. Instead, two people are dead and a police department is overcome with grief and shock.
"Am I going to do anything different? No, I think I do my job and everybody on this department does their job. Brent did his job yesterday, serving the community. Unfortunately, he ended up paying the ultimate price for that," Decker said.
"Our hearts go out to his family. He's got two kids and a wife and we know him. He's a good guy and it's just tough. We're human," said Watts.
Officer Long was a K-9 handler and accompanied by his police dog "Shadow" at the time of the shooting. Shadow was also wounded by gunfire and transported to a local veterinarian hospital reportedly in critical condition.
The autopsy on Seeley is scheduled for Wednesday morning, July 12, at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.
The investigation is ongoing and will last for the next few days as ISP investigators continue to interview witnesses and police officers. It is unknown at this time if more arrests will occur. At the conclusion of the ISP investigation, the entire report will be submitted to the Vigo County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Law enforcement runs in Long's family. His mother works in the records room at the police department and his wife is a dispatcher, who was on duty when the call came in that her husband had been shot in the line of duty.
Officer Long is also survived by an 11-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son. His funeral could take place as early as the end of this week.
