A traffic stop on Interstate 75 in Kentucky ended with a 40-year-old man dead after a foot chase, a Taser deployment and a physical struggle with a state trooper. The man was identified as Tommy Velasco of Jeffersonville, Kentucky. He was shot during the encounter Monday evening, November 9, in Laurel County.
Kentucky State Police said the incident began around 7:30 p.m. near mile marker 46 on southbound I-75 in the East Bernstadt community. A trooper had stopped a vehicle driven by Velasco, and the encounter soon developed into a situation that ended with deadly gunfire.
During the traffic stop, Velasco got out of his vehicle and underwent field sobriety tests. Investigators said he displayed signs of impairment during the tests.
Police reported that the trooper attempted to take Velasco into custody, but he ran from the scene. The officer chased him on foot, trying to stop him before the situation escalated further.
The trooper then deployed a Taser. However, according to the preliminary investigation, the device had limited effectiveness. A physical altercation followed between the officer and Velasco.
At some point during the struggle, the trooper discharged his agency-issued firearm, striking Velasco. The 40-year-old was fatally wounded. Police have not provided further information about the exact circumstances of the shooting.
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is handling the investigation after being requested by Post 11 in London. Investigators are working to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the encounter.
State police have said they will not release certain details while the investigation is underway. Their standard procedure is to first interview important witnesses and collect relevant evidence before making further information public. The agency also said the length of an investigation depends on its complexity.
Velasco’s death has left his family and loved ones facing a loss that came without warning. What began as a traffic stop on a busy Kentucky interstate ended in a fatal shooting, and investigators now have the task of establishing exactly what happened during those final moments.
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