HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) trooper involved in the fatal shooting of a suspect September 17 has been identified as Trooper Paul Hale, a three year veteran of the Kentucky State Police.
The suspect has been identified as Damon Christopher Gayheart, 44, of Owensboro, Kentucky.
Police said Trooper Hale has been placed on paid administrative leave, pursuant with KSP policy. The investigation is ongoing by the KSP Critical Incident Response Team.
KSP received a call for assistance from the Christian County Sheriff’s Office around 12:30 a.m. on September 17 regarding a suspicious vehicle at the intersection of Meacham Road and Greenville Road.
The driver was slumped over the steering wheel of the car, which was reported stolen out of Akron, Ohio, investigators said.
Deputies and troopers made contact with the driver and said he would not cooperate, so a trooper tried to remove him from the vehicle.
The driver fled and dragged a trooper with the vehicle until the trooper was able to free himself.
The driver in the stolen vehicle was chased for several miles southbound on Greenville Road and the vehicle somehow caught fire and burst into flames.
During an interaction at the end of the chase, KSP said the suspect was shot by a trooper and was pronounced dead at the scene.