November 26, 2009
FORKLAND — A Boyle County man died of a gunshot wound to the head Wednesday at his home on Catholic Knob, and the shooting is being investigated by state police to determine if the wound was caused by a trooper.
Roger King, 61, died at his home at 8115 Forkland Road as the result of a gunshot wound to the head, said Boyle Coroner Dr. James Ramey, who pronounced King dead at 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
Kentucky State Police Post 7 Richmond, is currently investigating whether King’s death was caused by a state trooper.
According to a press release from the state police post, at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, Trooper Eric Taylor, along with five members of the Boyle County Sheriff's Department, arrived at King’s home.
“They were attempting to serve an arrest warrant and Emergency Protective Order on Roger King. Officers knocked on the front door of the residence and identified themselves. King did not answer the door. The officers then went to the back door, and identified themselves again. The officers peered through the window of the door and observed King inside the residence. He was armed with a handgun. King then brandished the weapon at the officers. KSP Trooper Eric Taylor then fired a single shot through the window of the door, striking King,” the press release said.
King’s body was taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Frankfort, where an autopsy will be conducted. The shooting remains under investigation by Detective Mark Young, Detective Monte Owens and Lieutenant Blake Slone. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
Ramey said King will be taken to Preston-Pruitt Funeral Home in Danville after the autopsy.
Jimmy Wilcher, Boyle County sheriff’s deputy, was one of five deputies called to assist state police. Wilcher, who worked with King for 20 years on the railroad, said he was not present when the shooting occurred. He was called about 9:45 p.m.
Wilcher said the warrant stemmed from a couple of days ago when King had gone to an ex-wife’s home.
“He pulled a weapon on her and threatened to kill her and she took out the EPO and warrant for his arrest,” he said.
Wilcher said when officers went to the back door they saw King lying on a couch.
“When he rolled over, he whipped out a pistol and fired a round through the patio door. Trooper Eric Taylor returned fire. He fired a round and it struck Roger in the face.”
Wilcher said when he was called he tried to make contact with King over a loudspeaker.
“We couldn’t get him to acknowledge us and we called the SWAT team.”
When the SWAT team went into King’s home, he was found dead.
Wilcher said he had to leave the scene to assist with a mental patient at the hospital, but at that time about 20 members of the SWAT team were preparing to enter the house.
Wilcher said there is some confusion about whether King could have shot himself, but he expressed doubt about that.
“We’re not 100 percent sure the trooper shot him. Nobody will know until they get done in Frankfort.”
Wilcher said the events unfolded rapidly when the trooper went to the back door of the home.
“The officer told me, ‘I had him in my sights, and I fired a round and tried to get out.’ Nobody had time to stand there and see if he would return fire.”
Wilcher said King’s gun was a .45-caliber long barrel Colt. “It was an old gun like from the old West. It also would shoot a .410-shotgun shell.”
He also said officers suspected King might respond violently. About four years ago, there was an incident at King’s home where King fired a shot at a trooper’s car. The trooper had been sent to King’s home about a dispute with neighbors.
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