KY Officer Wounded in OIS, Suspect Later Dies

A Lexington, KY, police officer was shot Thursday night as officers tried to approach a man inside a room at a local hotel. Friday the police chief said the officer’s wounds were not life threatening and he had been released from the hospital.

The suspected shooter died from a gunshot wound, but Chief Lawrence Weathers would not say if the injury was from shots fired by officers. He pointed out the investigation has been turned over to Kentucky State Police (KSP).

In a Friday press conference aired by WKYT , Weathers provided details of the officer-involved shooting. He explained how at 10:43 p.m. the officers were dispatched to a report of trespassing and what he termed as a delayed assault report at Extended Stay America. The suspect refused to open the door to talk to officers.

“Officers were able to gain access to the room and shortly after entry the suspect fired a gun at the officers. The officers returned gunfire; the officers backed out of the room after returning gunfire. The suspect stayed and refused to exit the room. One of the officers was shot and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” says Weathers.

Lexington Police Department's Emergency Response Unit and Crisis Negotiation Unit responded and attempted to make contact and negotiate with the suspect for several hours. Officers entered the room about 4:30 a.m. and located the wounded suspect.

Weathers said emergency personnel rendered first aid and the suspect was transported to a local hospital with reported life-threatening injuries and later was pronounced dead.

The chief did not release the name of the wounded officer or any other officers present at the time of the shooting. He said since KSP is leading the investigation it will be up to them to decide when to release names. The name of the suspect also had not been released at the time of the press conference.