Graves County, Ky.–On Jan. 5, 2022 at approximately 3:30 am CST, Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 1 was requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Graves County.
KSP Post 1 detectives, with the assistance of the KSP Critical Incident Response Team, have conducted all necessary interviews of vital witnesses and officers involved. At this time, KSP is able to release findings from the preliminary investigation, which reveals that two officers from Frankfort Police Department, who were in the area to assist local agencies with the aftermath of the recent December tornadoes and severe weather system, were conducting extra patrol at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds.
A subject, who has been identified as Tony Edwards, 53-year-old male of Mayfield, KY, approached the officers. Edwards then presented a firearm and began shooting in the direction of the officers. The officers returned fire, striking Edwards. Edwards was transported by Mayfield-Graves County EMS to Jackson Purchase Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy was conducted on Edwards on Jan. 6, 2022 at the Western Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Madisonville, KY. The autopsy revealed that his cause of death was from a gunshot wound.
The officers from Frankfort Police Department have been identified as Officer Michael Martin who has served with the agency for just over 1 year and Detective David Ingle who has served with the agency for approximately 15 years.
The investigation is ongoing by KSP Detective Brian Hill.
KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
Original Release Below:
MAYFIELD, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2022) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 1 is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at approximately 3:30 am CST on Jan. 5 in Graves County.
Officers from Frankfort Police Department were in Mayfield assisting local agencies with the aftermath of the recent tornadoes and severe weather system. The officers were conducting extra patrol at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds during the overnight hours of Jan. 5, at which time the fairgrounds were closed to the public. A subject, armed with a firearm, approached officers and fired multiple shots in their direction. Frankfort Police Department officers returned fire, striking the subject.
The male subject was transported by Mayfield-Graves County EMS to Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield where he was pronounced deceased by the Graves County Coroner.
At the request of the Frankfort Police Department, KSP Post 1 and the KSP Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing by KSP Post 1.
KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.