Officials have identified the man shot and killed on the eastern bypass in Richmond Saturday night when a multi-county police chase turned into a deadly shootout between a man on the run and officers from several police agencies.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has identified the man shot and killed by officers as 29-year-old Jesse Gibbons of Lexington.
Gibbons is accused of assaulting a Lexington officer and then fleeing the scene with the officer’s Taser. Gibbons allegedly then led law enforcement on a pursuit from Lexington to Madison County, where he opened fire. Officers shot back, and Gibbons was struck multiple times.
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Part of the scary ordeal was witnessed by two men who caught the shootout on cell phone video and spoke with LEX 18 about the incident.
“We got out of the car and they told us to duck down. We were behind the car and I pulled out my phone and started recording. It was intense, probably the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” said witness Darrius Minter.
Police say it all started in Lexington, when their suspect assaulted Officer James Winter at a gas station on Buckhorn Drive and took off. Police followed Gibbons down I-75 to exit 87 in Richmond, where he apparently drove his car into a wooded area, got out and started shooting.
“The craziest episode of ‘Cops’ you’ve seen in your life. Just imagine being front and center without a gun or a bullet proof vest,” said witness Jesse Middleton.
Witnesses say they counted about 30 shots fired in their 30 second video. They say they’re just glad no one else was hurt with so many bystanders and businesses nearby.
“He pulled the gun out of the trunk and just started shooting. It could have hit one of those gas pumps or anything, and it could have been way worse. Somebody could have got hit from that crossfire with all those bullets flying. It just a blessing that no one got hit or injured,” said Middleton.
The Lexington police officer who was assaulted before the shootout is expected to be OK.
