Topeka Police Department, Kansas
End of Watch: Sunday, December 16, 2012
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 8 months
Badge Number: 155
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 16, 2012
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Police Officer Jeff Atherly and Corporal David Gogian were shot and killed while checking on a suspicious vehicle in a grocery store parking lot, on the 1400 block of SW Huntoon Street, shortly after 6:00 pm.
Several minutes after making contact with the multiple subjects in the vehicle one them opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Atherly and Corporal Gogian. A third officer on the scene was not wounded. The subject who opened fire fled in the vehicle. He was located in a home on Third Street where he barricaded himself for several hours. He was eventually shot and killed after exiting the home while carrying a firearm.
Officer Atherly had served with the Topeka Police Department for just under two years. He is survived by his child.