In the early morning hours of December 9, 2016, a chilling sequence of events unfolded in Bardstown, Kentucky, culminating in the death of 29-year-old Tyran Jenkins. A Black male, Jenkins was at the center of a police chase that ended tragically on a local golf course. The incident began when his ex-girlfriend placed a frantic 911 call, reporting that Jenkins was pursuing her in his vehicle through the city streets.
The day prior, she had sought and been granted an emergency protective order against him, though it had not yet been served.
Responding to the call, Bardstown police officers intercepted the chase. As the pursuit continued, Jenkins' vehicle struck his ex-girlfriend's car, disabling it. He continued to flee from the police until officers heard a single gunshot emanate from his moving vehicle. Shortly after, Jenkins' car veered off the road and came to a stop on a golf course off of Stephen Foster Avenue.
Law enforcement established a perimeter around the vehicle and attempted to make contact with Jenkins. When they received no response, they deployed less-lethal 'beanbag' rounds in an attempt to elicit a reaction. Upon approaching the car, officers discovered Jenkins inside, deceased from what they described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the immediate aftermath, there was some public confusion regarding the nature of his death, with some initial online sources categorizing it as an unsolved homicide. This was part of a broader narrative of unsolved violent crimes that have troubled the Bardstown community. However, the official account from law enforcement has consistently pointed to suicide as the cause of death. No suspects have been sought in connection with the incident.
