Kentucky Police: Suspect Who Fired at Deputies During Chase Died from Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY — Investigators have identified the suspect who fired at deputies during a high-speed chase Friday night in McCracken County as 26-year-old Robert Wray of Kevil, according to the Kentucky State Police (KSP).
Authorities say Wray died after crashing into a home while being pursued by multiple agencies. A preliminary investigation revealed that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chase Began Over Reckless Driving
According to KSP, the incident began around 8 p.m. on November 7, when a Marshall County Sheriff’s deputy—who was driving home from an event—spotted a pickup truck towing a camper that was driving recklessly on a flat tire along Hardmoney Road in Paducah.
The deputy attempted to pull the driver over, but Wray refused to stop, disconnecting the camper as he sped away. The chase continued into McCracken County, where additional units from the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office and the Paducah Police Department joined in.
Suspect Fired at Deputies During Pursuit
During the pursuit, investigators say Wray opened fire, hitting several sheriff’s vehicles with multiple rounds. Officers attempted to stop the truck using a pursuit intervention technique (PIT maneuver), but the chase ended when Wray’s vehicle crashed into a home on Lone Oak Road.
Wray was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. No one inside the home was injured, and no deputies were struck by gunfire, officials confirmed.
Death Determined to Be Self-Inflicted
According to Kentucky State Police, Wray sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the incident. Investigators confirmed that no law enforcement officers fired their weapons at any point during the chase.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office requested that KSP lead the investigation, in accordance with standard state procedures following critical incidents involving police.
Sheriff Praises Deputies’ Professionalism
McCracken County Sheriff Ryan Norman commended his deputies for their response under pressure, stating that they acted “calmly and professionally” throughout the encounter despite coming under fire.
“I am proud of the deputies’ calm and professional demeanor during this incident,” Norman said. “They did exactly what I would expect them to do under such dangerous circumstances.”
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