Over the weekend, Officer Jason Ellis of the Bardstown, Kentucky police department was gunned down while driving home from work.
According to an Associated Press report, the 33-year-old Ellis was in his uniform and was driving his police cruiser on early Saturday morning. He had reportedly stopped to move debris out of the road when he was shot multiple times with a shotgun. Police have now stated that the incident was an ambush.
According to Bardstown Police, Ellis was a K-9 officer with the department. Police this weekend began accepting food donations, as well as cash donations to go towards a reward for the capture of Ellis’ killer. A makeshift police cruiser memorial has been set up in front of the Bardstown police station for mourners to leave flowers and baseballs. A candlelight vigil was held Monday night at the site.
Police are now investigating the incident, trying to determine whether Ellis was the intended target of the attack. They are asking for tips on the case, particularly whether anyone saw a parked car in the area or “people milling around.”
Bardstown is a small town of around 12,000 people in central Kentucky. It is most famous for the many Bourbon distilleries that are located near the town.
(Image courtesy the Bardstown Police Department)