EAST BERNSTADT, Ky. (KT) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating a trooper-involved fatal shooting that occurred in Laurel County on Monday evening.
The CIRT investigation was initiated by KSP Post 11 in London, who requested it following the incident, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. (ET).
According to the KSP, the preliminary investigation indicates that a State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop on I-75 South near the 46-mile marker in the East Bernstadt community of Laurel County.
During the traffic stop, the driver, Tommy Velasco, 40, of Jeffersonville, Kentucky, exited his car and was administered field sobriety tests. After showing signs of impairment, Mr. Velasco fled on foot as the trooper was attempting to take him into custody. The trooper gave chase and deployed his taser, which had limited effect. A physical altercation between the two men ensued, resulting in the trooper firing his agency-issued pistol, resulting in Velasco being fatally wounded.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered.
Timelines to complete investigations vary, based on the complexity of the individual case.
