LARUE COUNTY, KY (WAVE) – Kentucky State Police has released the names of a
LaRue County sheriff's deputy and the suspect he shot and killed Friday night
near Magnolia.
Thomas Ferguson, 38, of Magnolia led Deputy James Williamson, 24, on a
ten-minute pursuit along KY 1192 before losing control of his vehicle,
according to Trooper Norman Chaffins of KSP Post 4 in Elizabethtown.
Chaffins said the car came to rest facing Deputy Williamson, and Ferguson
accelerated toward him.
"The deputy got out of the vehicle and approached the vehicle and as he
approached the suspect's vehicle accelerated toward the deputy and the deputy
fired shots into the car," Chaffins said.
Ferguson was shot in the head and later died at University of Louisville
Hospital.
Police said alcohol was believed to have played a role in the chain of
events on Friday night.
Chaffins said Ferguson had a lengthy criminal past and that Williamson is a
two-year veteran of the LaRue County Sheriff's Department.
Ferguson's mother, Carolyn Chaudoyn, said she's still trying to make sense
of what police say happened.
"I don't understand what was going through his head," she said.
"I just don't understand what happened."
She said her son was turning his life around.
"He's just been having it rough, and we've been helping with bills and
trying to take care of him and then something stupid like this happens. I don't
understand it," Chaudoyn said.
Neighbors said they can't imagine Ferguson hurting anyone.
"If I needed a hand with anything, he'd help me out. As a matter of
fact, whenever we'd go on vacation, he kept an eye on the house," said
neighbor Roger Bowlds.
Investigators will analyze dash cam video of the pursuit and confrontation
to determine whether the officer was justified in firing the shots to maintain
safety.
"Anything can be a weapon, especially a 2,500 pound car coming at you;
there's not much you can do," Chaffins said.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
A heavy police presence was on the scene of the shooting Friday night.
The incident happened along KY 1192 near Magnolia.
Crime tape marked the scene where the shooting happened.
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