Ky. cop killed by suspect pretending to be police officer

James DeCoursey, 35, shot and killed an off-duty police officer while posing as a cop in Hopkinsville, Ky. on Thursday. (CHRISTIAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT)

A suspect pretending to be a police officer killed an off-duty cop in Kentucky on Thursday, authorities said.

James Kennith DeCoursey, 35, pulled Hopkinsville police officer Phillip Meacham, 38, over while he was in his personal car, police said.

DeCoursey fatally shot Meacham at around 5:10 p.m. before fleeing the scene in a stolen white Chevrolet pickup truck, according to police.

Meacham, a married father-of-two, was taken to a local hospital where he died. 

Hopkinsville Police Officer Phillip Meacham was fatally shot around 5:10 p.m. on March 29, 2018.(HOPKINSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT)

He served in the Christian County Sheriff's Office for 12 years before he joined the Hopkinsville Police Department in May 2017. 

Hopkinsville police chief Clayton Summer said, “I want to ask everyone for their thoughts and prayers for family and for men and women out their trying to find this criminal."

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin tweeted, “Tonight a police officer in Hopkinsville, KY was killed in the line of duty. There is no greater sacrifice than that of a person willing to lay down their life for another."

Pray for healing.
Pray for peace.
Pray for our brother.
Pray for his family.
Pray for Hopkinsville Police.
Pray the suspect is caught and brought to justice.

Our community has been rocked by the unspeakable. #thinblueline#officerdown #HPD ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️🔵🔵⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️

— Christian Co Sheriff (@CCSODeputies) March 30, 2018

Investigators are still on the hunt for DeCoursey, who is considered “armed and dangerous."

He is described as a 6'1" white male with brown eyes and black hair. 

- ny news