Suspect in Hopkinsville police officer's death killed by authorities in Clarksville

A regional manhunt following the shooting death of a Hopkinsville, Kentucky, police officer ended early Friday morning in Clarksville, Tennessee, with a fatal confrontation on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard.

The suspect, James Decoursey, was shot and killed near the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store at exit 4 on Interstate 24. 

"James K. Decoursey is no longer a threat to the public," Kentucky State Police said in a statement.

KSP identified the dead Hopkinsville officer as Phillip Meacham, 38, who had worked for the police department since May 2017.

More:  Timeline of events in killing of Phillip Meacham

About midnight Thursday, two Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputies and a U.S. Marshal encountered Decoursey after receiving a tip regarding a man matching Decoursey's description, according to Josh DeVine, spokesman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Authorities had issued a BOLO — be-on-the-lookout — for Decoursey, 35, and also developed information he had stolen a white truck and may have been in the exit 4 area.

Officers from several agencies, including the Clarksville Police Department, MCSO and the U.S. Marshals Service, met in the area and located the stolen vehicle in the restaurant's parking lot.

At about the same time, the TBI said, a call came in to authorities from a hotel across the street, reporting that a man matching Decoursey’s description was there asking for a cigarette.

Officers headed in the direction of the hotel. Two MCSO deputies and a U.S. marshal encountered Decoursey walking across Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, back toward the restaurant.

The TBI said Decoursey appeared to have ignored repeated commands, and the situation escalated, resulting in the law enforcement officers firing on Decoursey, killing him. No law enforcement officers were injured in that incident.

"I hate that Mr. Decoursey put these deputies and the marshal in that position," said Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson.

The deputies' names have not been released, and the shooting is under investigation, per standard procedure.

"We make decisions every day to keep people safe," Fuson said. "And subjects make their own decisions, and sometimes it results in their death."

"I hate it for the deputies," he said. "From everything I've heard, they did what they had to do."

Officer killed by man pretending to be cop

According to the Hopkinsville Police Department, at 5:10 p.m. Thursday, Meacham, who was off-duty, was driving in his personal vehicle when a man "pretending to be a police officer" pulled over his car.

Police haven't specified what transpired, other than "shortly after that," the suspect, later identified as Decoursey, shot Meacham, police said.

Meacham was transported to Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville, where he died.

Police say Decoursey fled on foot before stealing a 1997 white Chevrolet pickup truck.

Authorities said Decoursey was to be considered armed and dangerous. 

Survived by wife, 1 child

Meacham, who worked roughly 12 years at the Christian County Sheriff's Office prior to beginning at Hopkinsville, is also a native of the city. 

Married and with one school-age child, he had been with the Hopkinsville department since last May. 

Chief Clayton Sumner said he was unsure whether the two knew each other personally, but "considering they're both from here, it's very likely."

When asked what he told Meacham's wife when speaking with her after the shooting, Sumner said he told her, "We'll find him," referring to Decoursey.

Sumner said the Hopkinsville Police Department had already activated mental health professionals and chaplains.

"Officers are never off duty," said Sumner, who was visibly emotional at a news conference Thursday night, and was still wearing a gray pullover from rushing to the scene. 

"This is new to me. I don't know how to do this. I don't know what I'm supposed to say. I just ask for everybody's support."

On Friday, Meacham's patrol vehicle was placed in front of the Police Department for citizens to place flowers, cards or other tributes on it.

To help the officer's family, a donation account has been set up with Planters Bank, under the Officer Phillip Meacham’s Memorial Fund. Donations can be mailed to that fund at PO Box 1570, Hopkinsville, KY 42241-1570.

Kyle Spurlin, public information officer for the Hopkinsville Police Department, said Kentucky State Police has taken over the investigation of the fatal shooting.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, along with other state officials, took to Twitter to mourn the death of Meacham.

"There is no greater sacrifice than that of a person willing to lay down their life for another... Thank God for the #ThinBlueLine," Bevin tweeted.

In Frankfort, lawmakers in the House stood for a moment of silence after Rep. Walker Wood Thomas of Hopkinsville announced that an officer had been shot, according to the Associated Press.

The sheriff's office in Christian County, where Hopkinsville is located, tweeted a call for prayers, including that "the suspect is caught and brought to justice."

Decoursey had criminal history

Decoursey was known to the police department from prior arrests, Sumner said. Authorities haven't given a possible motive.

"I knew the name from when I was an officer on the street," said Sumner.

Decoursey had felony convictions in both Christian and Daviess counties in Kentucky.

According to Department of Corrections records, he was convicted in February 2011 in Christian County of criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree; and fraudulent use of a credit card. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

For an October 2009 arrest in Daviess County, he was convicted in February 2011 on charges of possession of a handgun by a felon, trafficking, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. On those charges, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

His Facebook page indicates he was "self-employed" and a graduate of Hopkinsville High School.

The TBI does not identify officers involved in shootings, and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Office have not yet released the officers' names.

Chris Smith and Natalie Alund contributed to this report. Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.