Kentucky State Police Investigate Trooper-Involved Shooting in Laurel County

EAST BERNSTADT, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was requested by Post 11 London to investigate a trooper-involved shooting that occurred on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, around 7:30 p.m. EST in Laurel County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a KSP trooper conducted a traffic stop on I-75 South near the 46 mile marker in the East Bernstadt community of Laurel County. During the traffic stop, the driver, Tommy Velasco, 40, of Jeffersonville, Kentucky, exited his car and was administered field sobriety tests. After showing signs of impairment, Mr. Velasco fled on foot as the trooper was attempting to take him into custody. The trooper gave chase and deployed his taser, which had limited effect. A physical altercation ensued, resulting in the trooper discharging his agency-issued pistol, fatally wounding Mr. Velasco.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing. KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.

# # #