MAN WANTED BY OHIO POLICE SHOT DEAD BY KENTUCKY STATE POLICE TROOPERS IN MARTIN CO. AFTER LOW SPEED CAR CHASE
KSP GOT TIP FROM A SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IN OHIO EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING THAT THEIR SUSPECT WAS IN A SPECIFIC AREA IN JOHNSON COUNTY, WHICH WAS WHERE VEHICLE PURSUIT BEGAN
The shooting incident happened early Thursday morning in the Spring Knob area of the Tomahawk community in Martin County.
According to a press release report from the Kentucky State Police Post 9-Pikeville, Kentucky, spokesperson Trooper William Petry stated that a man who was being sought by police in Ohio, was killed early Thursday morning following an officer-involved shooting that took place following a police pursuit of the suspect’s vehicle. The name of the suspect has not yet been released nor the officer who shot him.
Trooper Petry stated at approximately 6:30 P.M. Wednesday, April 29, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio contacted law enforcement authorities in Kentucky with an attempt-to-locate request for a white box-type van which the suspect was believed to have been driving in the Wittensville area of Johnson County. The man was wanted in Ohio on several criminal warrants including assault, trooper Petry said in the report, and that the suspect may have been wanted on warrants out of Florida.
Just after midnight Thursday, April 30, trooper Petry said that KSP officers located the suspect’s van and began following it after the driver ignored commands to stop the vehicle. Petry said the pursuit was low-speed and turned onto Ky. Route 40 and then onto Ky. 3039 before finally turning onto a dirt road leading to a rural farm on the Johnson-Martin line.
Trooper Petry says the suspect was on the phone with an unnamed county sheriff’s office dispatcher and advised he was armed with a loaded firearm, which troopers and deputies were able to visually verify. Trooper Petry stated that while officers were attempting to negotiate with the man, shots were fired.
“They were negotiating and at some point, something happened; unknown to me at this time, but shots were fired, and because of that, he is deceased,” trooper Petry claimed. “I know there was shots fired, and I don’t know who or how many or whatever.”, trooper Petry further explained
The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting by the Martin County Coroner Chris Todd at just after 3 AM., trooper Petry said.
Trooper Petry said there were no other injuries in the incident, and the KSP investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Trooper Petry said a further press statement on the shooting case incident will be released soon.
