The father of the policeman, who was killed in the line of duty Monday night, says his family learned from a news broadcast about the tragedy.

Chernio Gonchev, father of the murdered police officer, Boncho Chernev, 38, says he spoke to his son last Monday morning. The two discussed the inclement weather and bad driving conditions.

Two police officers – Chernev and Nikolay Ivanov were called Monday evening to the village of Enina, near the town of Kazanlak, over a man with a self-inflicted hand wound. When they arrived, the man, identified as Nedelcho Vasilev, attacked them with a knife. Chernev died in the ambulance. Ivanov sustained a cut in the hand while attempting to take the weapon away.

“When I heart the story on TV, I immediately called my daughter in law. She had watched the news too. The children were screaming – they have two – Monika, she is in 10th grade and Chavdar – he is in 8th. The wife is a seamstress. We will bury him in his native village. We are all in shock,” the father says, adding he knew police work was a hard and dangerous one.

The Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, reports Chernev will be laid to rest with military honors and in the presence of high-ranking Interior employees.

Neighbors of the victim told the Bulgarian news agency BTA they were shaken and upset that Chernev's relatives had to learn from TV about the death of their loved-one.

On Monday night, the Bulgarian private news agency BGNES announced that one of its reporters had been abused verbally by the police in the Stara Zagora District because he announced the news immediately.

The perpetrator is listed in a hospital in Kazanlak with wounds on 3 fingers, most likely caused by fireworks, of which large quantities were discovered inside the house. The police in the city of Stara Zagora informs he faces charges of murder and attempted murder.

The Mayor of the deceased police officer's native village, Gorno Cherkovishte, had called a Day of Mourning for Wednesday. She says Chernev is a hero, and came from a family of modest, honest, and hard-working people, who were loved and respected by the villagers.

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