HOPKINSVILLE, KY — An off-duty police officer was shot and killed when he was pulled over by a suspect pretending to be a police officer on Thursday in Kentucky.
According to the Hopkinsville Police Department, just after 5 p.m. Officer Phillip Meacham, 38, was off-duty, driving his personal vehicle when he was pulled over by a man pretending to be a police officer.
Shortly after that, Officer Meacham was shot by the suspect, 35-year-old James Kennith Decoursey, police say.
Police say that Decoursey fled the scene, stealing a white Chevrolet pickup truck with Kentucky license plate 2070GH.
Officer Meacham was taken to Jenny Stuart Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
After an active manhunt for Decoursey, police shot and killed him about 30 miles south of Hopkinsville, the Logan County Sheriff's office said. Hopkinsville is about 73 miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin wrote on Twitter, "There is no greater sacrifice than that of a person willing to lay down their life for another."
Pray for healing.
Pray for peace.
Pray for our brother.
Pray for his family.
Pray for Hopkinsville Police.
Pray the suspect is caught and brought to justice.Our community has been rocked by the unspeakable. #thinblueline #officerdown #HPD ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️🔵🔵⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
— Christian Co Sheriff (@CCSODeputies) March 30, 2018
