Alabama Officer Shot and Killed During Vehicle Pursuit

Kimberly, AL, police Officer Nick O’Rear was fatally shot Tuesday night during a pursuit on Interstate 65 South, according to authorities.

O'Rear, 33, was a father of two with a third child on the way and had been a Kimberly police officer for a year or less. He had served with other agencies in the area. "Everybody loved him," Kimberly Mayor Bob Ellerbrock told AL.com . "He was a tremendous asset to our community."

A Warrior, AL, officer initially tried to pull over the suspect, which launched the pursuit. O'Rear quickly responded to help.

During the pursuit, the suspect reportedly fired shots into multiple police vehicles.

Preston Johnson, 37, has been charged in O'Rear's death. Johnson faces capital murder charges.

Johnson also faces a charge of attempted murder of a Warrior police officer and firing a gun into that officer's vehicle.

Johnson has a lengthy criminal history, according to state and federal court records, including multiple drug offenses. He reportedly had a large amount of money on him when he was taken into custody over the O'Rear murder.