PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Kentucky State Police has issued its first statement regarding an incident in which a state trooper shot and killed a suspect during a traffic stop Friday afternoon.
It happened around 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes of U.S, 23, on the shoulder across the highway from Pop’s Chevy. KSP released this account of the incident:
“The preliminary investigation indicates that a KSP Trooper was attempting to locate a vehicle as part of a domestic violence incident investigation,” the statement says. “Upon locating a vehicle matching the description, the trooper conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop the trooper was placed in a life-threatening situation by the vehicle operator, and in response discharged an agency-issued firearm striking the male subject. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Floyd County Coroner.”
Police have not released the identities of the officer or suspect.
KSP has jurisdiction to investigate officer-involved in Kentucky. The agency typically releases very few details about such incidents immediately after they occur, saying they only release additional information after all evidence is collected and interviews are conducted, in order to “protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation.”
