A central Kentucky police officer who was shot while investigating an armed robbery has died from his injuries, the Kentucky State Police said on Friday.
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“The Richmond Police Department is extremely grateful for the prayers and support that have been extended to Officer Daniel Ellis, his family, friends and fellow officers”, reads a statement issued by Kentucky State Police.
Several hundred people gathered outside the police station for a vigil late Wednesday, as Ellis remained in the hospital. It is alleged that while Officer Ellis and another RPD Officer were searching the apartment, Raleigh Sizemore produced a firearm and shot Officer Ellis, critically injuring him.
Sizemore, who was treated for his gunshot wound and released into police custody had been charged with attempted murder of a police officer and unlawful imprisonment, but now that Daniel Ellis has died, those charges will most likely be elevated, county attorney Marc Robbins said. State police say that charge will now be upgraded to murder of a police officer.
Police also have charged two others who were in the home at the time of the shooting.
34, was shot after shooting Officer Ellis.
It’s unclear whether they’ve entered a plea.
Police have said Ellis was shot in the head during a robbery investigation that led him to a residence on Ballard Drive.
Ellis had been with the force for about seven years. The second officer returned fire and struck Sizemore in the leg and chest.
Richmond is about 100 miles southeast of Louisville. Station manager Missi McCoy said the customer was returning to her auto in the parking lot when a van pulled up next to her and a man jumped out and tried to grab her purse.
As the woman struggled with the robber, McCoy said, a man walking to work across the street saw what was happening and ran to help. The woman, though panicked and crying, managed to get the license plate number and called police to report the incident.
Ellis and the second officer were investigating the mugging when they went to Ratliff’s apartment about a mile from the gas station. Sizemore was inside a bedroom of the apartment along with a woman named Rita Creech.
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Police said at one point, Johnson-Shanks slammed on the brakes, leaned out of the vehicle and opened fire, striking Ponder. Ellis was well-liked and his police cruiser, parked in front of the department, has been turned into a memorial, said Richmond Police Major Steve Gregg. Before the injury, he was in line for a promotion to detective, Police Maj.
