After finding a suspicious vehicle, officers discovered the vehicle was reported stolen from Akron, Ohio. Upon contact by officers, the driver became uncooperative, so the trooper attempted to remove the person from the vehicle. The man began to flee, and the trooper allegedly was dragged by the vehicle. The deputies and trooper pursued the stolen vehicle for several miles southbound on Greenville Road. While in pursuit, the vehicle caught fire and became fully engulfed. At the end of the pursuit, the man was fatally shot by the trooper for reasons that were withheld by police.
Victim's Name: Damon Christopher Gayheart
Agency Responsible: Christian County Sheriff's Department
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Race: White
Date of Death: September 17, 2018
County: Christian
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Vehicle
Weapon: vehicle
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Car
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 4040
Geography: Suburban