The Christian County Coroner’s office is releasing the identity of the man who was killed following a police pursuit early Monday morning.
Deputy Coroner Mike Stokes identified the man as 44-year-old Damon Christopher Gayheart. Stokes says Gayheart was a white male and had no known address.
Kentucky State Police have released no further information about the investigation.
State Police say they were called out around 12:24 a.m. by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department to assist in a complaint regarding a suspicious vehicle, with the driver slumped over the wheel at the intersection of Meacham Road and Greenville Road.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen in Akron, Ohio. The driver then became uncooperative, and a trooper attempted to remove him from the vehicle. At that point, the driver attempted to flee the scene, dragging the trooper until the trooper was able to free himself from the vehicle.
A southbound pursuit of several miles ensued on Greenville Road. During the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle ignited and became fully engulfed. During interaction with the driver at the end of the pursuit, the trooper discharged his weapon, fatally wounding the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
