In the line of duty, 29-year-old Caucasian male, Kentucky State Police Trooper Edward Ray Harris, tragically lost his life on November 7, 1979. The events unfolded in LaRue County, Kentucky, when Trooper Harris initiated a traffic stop. During the attempt to make an arrest, the situation escalated, and he was fatally shot.
According to a witness, Trooper Harris was first struck by a gunshot fired from within the suspect's vehicle.
He was reportedly shot again as he lay wounded in the road. Having served with the Kentucky State Police for seven and a half years, his death was a profound loss to the community and his department.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, other officers on the scene engaged the suspect. The individual responsible for Trooper Harris's death was shot and killed by law enforcement at the location of the incident. With the death of the perpetrator, the investigation into Trooper Harris's murder was concluded. No further arrests were made, as authorities determined there were no other suspects involved in the violent encounter that claimed the life of the dedicated officer. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a portion of a highway in Hardin County was designated the 'Trooper Edward Harris Memorial Highway.'
