Foot Chase and Taser Deployment Preceded Fatal Shooting of Tommy Velasco in Laurel County

 Tommy Velasco, a 40-year-old man from Jeffersonville, Kentucky, died after a traffic stop on Interstate 75 in Laurel County ended in a foot pursuit, a Taser deployment and a physical struggle with a state trooper. Kentucky State Police said the trooper fired an agency-issued weapon during the encounter on Monday evening, November 9. The shooting occurred near mile marker 46 on southbound I-75 in the East Bernstadt community. The supplied account does not describe traffic conditions or whether other motorists witnessed the incident.

According to state police, the incident began at approximately 7:30 p.m., when a trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Velasco. During the stop, Velasco got out of the vehicle and took part in field sobriety tests. Investigators said he displayed signs of impairment during those tests. The supplied account does not provide details about the reason for the initial stop, the specific observations made by the trooper or whether any test results were recorded.

Police said the trooper then attempted to take Velasco into custody, but Velasco ran from the scene. The officer pursued him on foot in an effort to stop him. During the chase, the trooper deployed a Taser. Preliminary information from investigators indicates that the device had limited effectiveness. A physical altercation followed between Velasco and the trooper, though authorities have not publicly described the movements or actions involved in that struggle.

At some point during the physical encounter, the trooper discharged an agency-issued firearm and struck Velasco. The 40-year-old man died from the shooting, according to the account provided by state police. Officials have not released further details about the precise moment the firearm was used, the number of shots fired or what immediately preceded the discharge. The available information also does not state whether the trooper sustained injuries or required medical treatment.

The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting after Post 11 in London requested its involvement. The team is responsible for examining the circumstances surrounding the encounter and establishing a fuller account of the events. The investigation is expected to include the collection of relevant evidence and interviews with witnesses who may have information about the traffic stop, pursuit and struggle. Those steps are part of the agency’s effort to document the encounter. Investigators have not announced a timeline for releasing their findings or identified any additional agencies involved in the review.

State police said they would not release certain details while investigative work continues. The agency explained that investigators generally interview key witnesses and gather evidence before making additional information public. Officials also noted that the time required to complete an investigation can vary depending on its complexity. No further findings, conclusions about the use of force or additional details about the circumstances of Velasco’s death were included in the supplied report.

Velasco’s death followed an encounter that began with a routine traffic stop on a major Kentucky interstate and developed into a fatal use of force. His identification as a Jeffersonville resident provides a hometown connection, but the account does not include further biographical information or details about his family. No funeral arrangements or public statements from relatives were provided. For now, the sequence described by state police remains preliminary, and the Critical Incident Response Team’s investigation will be central to clarifying what happened.