By Elizabeth DePompei
The Evening News and The Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — An Indiana State Police trooper shot during a traffic stop Tuesday night has been identified, along with the suspect now accused of attempted murder.
ISP Trooper Morgenn Evans made a traffic stop near the intersection of Park and Jefferson streets in Jeffersonville around 7:05 p.m., according to a news release. The stop, which was reportedly based on a traffic infraction, involved a gray 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck driven by 79-year-old Oscar Kays of Jeffersonville.
“During the traffic stop Oscar Kays became combative and pulled a handgun and shot at Trooper Morgenn Evans. Trooper Morgenn Evans was struck in the head but was able to return shots at Oscar Kays while he was fleeing the scene,” the release states.
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Evans got back to his police car and pursued Kays, but Kays was able to escape and returned to his home on Huston Drive where he was later taken into custody by the Jeffersonville Police Department and the Clark County Sheriffs Office.
Evans, who has been a trooper since October 2016, was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Kays was transported to the same hospital with unknown injuries. It is unknown if the shots fired by the trooper wounded Kays or if Kays was wounded by his own gun or debris from the shots fired.
After his release from the hospital, Kays was arrested for attempted murder of a police officer and incarcerated at the Clark County jail.
A press conference is planned for 10 a.m. at the ISP post in Sellersburg.
This story will be updated.
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©2017 The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.)