Indiana FBI task force member dies in ‘ambush’ near US building
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – An FBI task force officer and longtime detective was fatally shot Wednesday in what officials called an ambush outside a federal building.
The gunman waited outside the building before shooting Greg Ferency, a 30-year veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department, FBI agents said. It’s unclear whether Ferency was targeted or if the suspect, who was shot by an FBI agent, intended to harm law enforcement in general.
Ferency was a beloved and respected member of the department, colleagues said Thursday. He was the father of two adult children.
“You’ll never meet a finer person,” Police Chief Shawn Keen said. “He was an amazing person. I just can’t say that enough.”
The FBI will lead the investigation into the shooting. Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said an agent heard gunshots, intervened and shot the suspect, who is in custody at a hospital.
Because of the suspect’s injuries, investigators were unable to obtain a statement.
Officials declined to identify the suspect, pending charges.
Keen said he knew Ferency for more than 20 years. The two were neighbors before the chief joined the police force, he said.
“There wasn’t anything he did that he didn’t put 100% into,” Keen said.
Ferency “was a valued member of our FBI family” since 2010, Keenan said.
Ferency was first assigned to the Safe Streets Task Force, which investigates gangs and violent crime, Keenan said. Ferency later worked on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. “They have to be kind of jack-of-all-trades here and work any federal crime that comes their way,” Keenan said of the Terre Haute task force officers.
Gov. Eric Holcomb called the incident a “tragic event” and “senseless” in a statement Wednesday.
“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,” Holcomb’s statement said.
About three years ago, Rob Pitts, a Terre Haute police officer for 16 years, died in the line of duty after being shot by a homicide suspect.