LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
IMAGE

Bowling Green Police Officer Killed During Knife Attack

PHOTO

A Bowling Green police officer was fatally shot when fellow officers tried to protect him from a knife attack, according to Kentucky State Police.

The man brandishing the knives also died. Police said he was believed to be an Edmonton resident.

Bowling Green Master Officer David Whitson, 34, was killed Tuesday at a residence where officers responded to a call for help from a female, who reported someone wielding a knife, state police said.

Rojelio Gonzalez-Pacheco, 26, who was armed with two knives, attacked Whitson at about 10:30 a.m. CST, according to a statement late Tuesday from state police.

?During the attack other responding officers used deadly force to protect Officer Whitson,? and Gonzalez-Pacheco and Whitson were shot, the statement said. Both were transported to the Medical Center of Bowling Green, where they were pronounced dead shortly before noon, authorities said. Autopsies were scheduled for Wednesday.A state police dispatcher said Tuesday night no other details were being released.

Witnesses near the scene of the shooting said they heard at least four shots fired, the Daily News of Bowling Green reported. Bowling Green police Officers Beldon Perry and Erik Woodward were placed on routine administrative leave, which is department policy, state police said.

Whitson had been with the department for eight years, working in patrol, Bowling Green Officer Barry Pruitt said. He was married with two children, former Police Chief Bill Waltrip said.

"He was an extremely proud father," Warren County Commonwealth's Attorney Chris Cohron, who said he knew Whitson well, told the newspaper. "When he came to grand jury, he would bring his son—he looked a lot like his daddy. He was a very dedicated officer and father. Tragic does not put into words the loss this community has suffered." Cohron said the entire case, including how many people were involved in the shootings, remained under investigation. Once the state police investigation is complete, he said, he will determine the next step.

Funeral arrangements for Whitson were incomplete, Police Chief Doug Hawkins said.

View This Officer's Memorial Page

"The loss of Officer Whitson will be profoundly felt, not just by his family, colleagues and loved ones, but also by our whole community," Hawkins said during a news conference Tuesday, reading from a statement from the city of Bowling Green.