Tommy Velasco, 40, of Jeffersonville, Kentucky, was shot and killed by a Kentucky State Police trooper Monday evening, November 9, after a traffic stop on Interstate 75 in Laurel County ended in a deadly confrontation. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. near mile marker 46 in the East Bernstadt community.
According to Kentucky State Police, a trooper pulled over a vehicle driven by Velasco on southbound I-75. During the stop, Velasco stepped out of his vehicle and was asked to undergo field sobriety tests as part of the investigation.
Police said Velasco showed signs of impairment during the tests. However, as the trooper attempted to take him into custody, he reportedly ran from the scene, prompting the officer to chase him on foot.
The pursuit quickly turned physical. According to investigators, the trooper deployed a Taser in an attempt to stop Velasco, but it had limited effect. A physical struggle followed, and the situation took a deadly turn.
During the altercation, the trooper fired his agency-issued pistol, striking Velasco. The 40-year-old later died from his injuries. Authorities have not released further details about the moments leading up to the shooting.
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is now investigating the shooting. The team was requested by KSP Post 11 in London to examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter.
State police said the investigation remains active. Officials explained that they are withholding certain details until key witnesses have been interviewed and important evidence has been gathered. They also noted that the time needed to complete such investigations depends on the circumstances of each case.
For Velasco’s family and those who knew him, his death marks a sudden and painful loss. A routine evening traffic stop ended with a man losing his life, leaving questions that investigators must now work to answer.