Governor to declare slain deputy a hero, attend funeral

Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday he will sign a proclamation declaring Sgt. Eric Stein, the Keokuk County Sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty Monday, a hero of the state.

He also ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from noon Friday until 8 a.m. Monday in honor of Stein.

Branstad will attend Stein's funeral Saturday but will not speak, spokesman Tim Albrecht said. The governor spoke with Stein's father Thursday, he said.

The funeral starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sigourney Junior-Senior High School. Interment will be held in the Springfield Cemetery near Delta.

American flags have been placed on poles from the cemetery to Stein's hometown of What Cheer. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Iowa are expected to attend the funeral.

No other information on the investigation into Monday's incident was expected to be released Thursday, said Jessica Lown, a spokeswoman with the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Investigators say Stein was shot and killed Monday by Jeff Krier as Stein, Sheriff Jeff Shipley and Deputy Casey Hinnah approached Krier's home on 249

^th

Street in rural Sigourney.

Krier, 53, was shot and killed three hours later after he came out of the home with unspecified weapons, authorities say. An autopsy found that Krier died of multiple gunshot wounds.

An autopsy determined Stein, 39, died of a shotgun wound to the head. Shipley and Hinnah were not injured.