The Montgomery County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Office said early Friday morning that the agency was “part of the search for the suspect involved in the Hopkinsville officer shooting.”
The sheriff’s office then said deputies were involved in a shooting at the I-24 Clarksville exit (exit 4) where the suspect, 35-year-old James Decoursey, was killed by deputies.
The incident began early Thursday evening when police said Decoursey, pretending to be a police officer, pulled over off-duty Hopkinsville officer, 38-year-old Phillip Meacham, who was driving his private vehicle.
After pulling over the officer, Decoursey and Meacham became engaged in an altercation, with Decoursey shooting Meacham, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Decoursey, who has an arrest history in Muhlenberg and Daviess Counties, then stole a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and fled the area.
Clarksville is about 32 miles south of Hopkinsville.
Officer Meacham, who had 14 years of law enforcement experience in Christian County, leaves behind a wife and two children.
(Headline photo: Officer Phillip Meacham)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
