UPDATE: Paducah, KY. (July 1, 2020) – An autopsy was conducted on John Parks at the Medical Examiner’s office in Madisonville, Kentucky on June 30, 2020. Preliminary results show Parks died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds sustained during the altercation.
The investigation is ongoing by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and Kentucky State Police Post 1.
McCracken County Sheriff’s Office release (June 30, 2020)
The purpose of this press release is to provide the public with as much information as I can at this time. The following information summarizes the events that led up to today’s encounter.
In February 2019, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office arrested 56-year-old John Parks for multiple charges, including Possession of Child Pornography.
On April 5, 2019, evidence was presented to the McCracken County Grand Jury that led them to indict Parks on nine more counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor.
A felony warrant was issued on April 9, 2019, and Parks was subsequently arrested.
On February 20, 2020, Parks entered a guilty plea in McCracken County Circuit Court and was scheduled to be sentenced to 18 months on July 1, 2020.
Last week McCracken County Sheriff Detectives became aware that Parks was attempting to obtain fake documents and flee the area before his sentencing. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office was consulted about those details, and the decision to revoke his bond was made. That warrant became active today as deputies began their efforts to locate Parks.
A surveillance detail resulted in positively identifying Parks, who had already altered his appearance. As detectives followed him to a location near the Kentucky Oaks Mall for Parks to obtain fake identification, detectives approached Parks to take him into custody. Parks refused to comply with deputies’ orders and fled in the vehicle he was driving.
Parks led deputies back to a residence he has been known to frequent on Court Avenue, and stopped in front of the residence. As deputies approached the vehicle, they defended themselves against Park’s actions at 3:37 p.m.
McCracken County Coroner Amanda Melton pronounced Parks deceased at the scene.
In order to maintain transparency, I immediately contacted the Kentucky State Police and requested their response to investigate the incident. The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is the standard protocol.
Any details or information as it pertains to the shooting will come solely from the Kentucky State Police.
KSP 0riginal press release:
Paducah, KY. (June 29, 2020) – Detectives with Kentucky State Police, Post 1 and the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at the intersection of Court Avenue and Audubon Drive in Paducah, Kentucky.
KSP update to original release:
Paducah, KY. (June 29, 2020) – Kentucky State Police detectives remain on scene of an officer involved shooting in McCracken County. Initial investigation shows the shooting took place just before 4:00 p.m. after a pursuit of a pickup truck that began near Kentucky Oaks Mall. The pursuit ended near the intersection of Court Avenue and Audubon Drive in Paducah. Immediately following the pursuit, an altercation ensued between deputies and the driver prompting a deputy to discharge their service weapon, fatally injuring the suspect.
The decedent is identified as John Parks, 57 of Paducah, Kentucky. An autopsy is pending and expected to take place in Madisonville.
The investigation is ongoing by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team and Kentucky State Police, Post 1.