**Update** KSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting

**UPDATE**

The suspect involved in the incident has been identified by AFIS as Damon Christopher Gayheart, 44, of Owensboro, Kentucky. The Trooper involved has been identified as Trooper Paul Hale, a three year veteran of the Kentucky State Police. Trooper Hale has been placed on administrative leave, pursuant with KSP policy. The investigation is ongoing by the KSP Critical Incident Response Team.

Hopkinsville, KY (Christian County) – On September 17, 2018, at approximately 12:24 AM the Kentucky State Police Post 2 in Madisonville received a call requesting assistance from the Christian County Sheriff’s Department. The complaint was of a suspicious vehicle at the intersection of Meacham Road and Greenville Road, with the operator slumped over the steering wheel.

 

When the Sheriff’s Department and the Trooper arrived on scene, they discovered the vehicle was stolen from Akron, Ohio.  Upon contact, the suspect became uncooperative, so the Trooper attempted to remove the suspect from the vehicle.  The suspect began to flee the scene and in the process, the Trooper was dragged by the vehicle until able to dislodge himself.

 

The Deputies and Trooper pursued the stolen vehicle for several miles southbound on Greenville Road. While in pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle, for an unknown reason, caught fire and became fully engulfed.  During the interaction at the end of the pursuit, the suspect was fatally shot by the Trooper. The suspect was pronounced deceased on scene by the Christian County Coroner.

 

The investigation is ongoing by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team, and the identity of the suspect is currently unknown.