Shively, KY – A gunman murdered a construction worker and shot a Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officer in the face early on Friday morning.
The attack occurred on Interstate 264 near Dixie Highway just after 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, WLKY reported.
LMPD Chief Erika Shields said the officer was conducting traffic control during an ongoing construction project when a man suddenly walked up to the site and fatally shot one of the construction workers.
Chief Shields said the gunman then walked over to the patrol vehicle and shot the officer in the face, WLKY reported.
Despite being seriously wounded, the officer was able to jump out of his vehicle and returned fire while chasing the suspect down, WKLY reported.
The police chief said the officer shot the gunman multiple times while pursuing him onto Dixie Highway.
The wounded officer was rushed to University of Louisville Hospital, where doctors determined he had been shot in the face and had a bullet lodged in the back of his neck, Louisville Councilman Anthony Piagentini told WKLY.
The officer was expected to survive his wounds.
The gunman was also transported to the hospital for treatment and was expected to recover, police said.
Police have not released the name or age of the construction worker who was murdered, but confirmed the victim was a male, according to the Courier Journal.
The construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released and police said they are still working on a motive for the attack, WKLY reported.
Dear Friends, we need prayers. The LMPD officer who was shot last night was shot in the face, upper cheek area and the bullet lodged in the back of his neck. Seems he will survive but please pray for his speedy recovery and for his family.
— Councilman Anthony Piagentini (@CMPiagentini) November 19, 2021
According to Shively dispatch, a truck that was somehow connected to the shooting crashed into Otts Tavern on Hillview Avenue during the night, but no further details were released.
Police shut down a portion of Interstate 264, as well as Dixie Highway between Crums Lane and Garrs Lane, while the investigation continued, WKLY reported.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) are handling the ongoing investigation.
LMPD confirms an officer-involved shooting investigation is underway, I-264 at Dixie Hwy is shut down both ways along with Dixie Hwy to Garrs/Crums Ln. Follow for further information. #LMPD
— LMPD (@LMPD) November 19, 2021
#BREAKING: An active scene on Dixie Hwy near the I-264 ramp here in Shively after an LMPD officer is shot and another person killed by the same suspect this morning.
Police says it happened on I-264, where the suspect opened fire for reasons that are unknown right now. @WLKY pic.twitter.com/GJxG2XAjqH
— Alexis Mathews (@AlexisWLKY) November 19, 2021
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