HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. The patrol car of fallen officer Phillip Meacham was out in Hopkinsville, Ky., on Friday, and mourners somberly approached it in a steady stream.
The 38-year-old officer was the first to die in Christian County, Ky., since 1987. Hundreds lined the streets to show unity for the fallen officer who was shot and killed Thursday night.
"I don't even have words. My heart is broken to pieces," said Pam Coombs, who came to say goodbye to Officer Meacham.
Meacham's processional marks the beginning of a weekend of mourning.
The Hopkinsville man suspected of fatally shooting Meachan while off duty was killed by law enforcement officials later Thursday in Tennessee.
Kentucky State police say 34-year-old James K. Decoursey shot and killed Meacham on Thursday afternoon, then fled on foot then before taking off in a pickup truck.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said authorities issued a BOLO for Decoursey of Hopkinsville, saying he may have stolen the truck and might be in the Clarksville, Tenn., area. Law enforcement allegedly located his truck at a Clarksville restaurant. At that time, authorities received a tip that a man matching Decoursey's description was at a motel across the road, asking for a cigarette.
TBI said Decoursey tried to run and appeared to ignored repeated commands so the situation escalated. Kentucky State Police Trooper Rob Austin said Decoursey "had a brief encounter with law enforcement" officials and he "was shot and died from his injuries." No officers were injured, according to TBI.
Meacham, who was married and had two school-age children, had been with the Hopkinsville department since May 2017. Before that worked for about 14 years with the Christian County Sheriff's Department.
TBI said it is continuing to investigation the situation.
