Man accused of shooting at Stanford police officer identified

STANFORD — A Harrodsburg man was shot multiple times outside Walmart Monday afternoon after getting into a shootout with Stanford police officer Tim Morris.

Jackie Murphy, 71, was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, where he is currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to state police.

State police media spokesman Trooper Paul Blanton said Murphy will be charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

No one else was hurt in the shooting, but there were many eyewitnesses who were visibly shaken by the experience.

Kathy Pitts Fields said she was leaving Walmart to take her mother home when she saw a man running out of the store. When the man got to the gas station in front of Walmart, he opened fire on a police cruiser that had pulled into the lot, she said.

"He started shooting at the cops before they got out of the car," she said. "He just turned around and started unloading."

Murphy was allegedly fleeing Walmart after attempting to shoplift, State Trooper Frank Thornberry said.

According to a state police press release, Murphy had been detained by a Walmart loss prevention employee for suspected shoplifting. But after being detained, Murphy "brandished a firearm and fled the store," the press release reads.

Trooper Blanton said police reports do not specify what Murphy was attempting to shoplift when he was detained.

Thornberry said Officer Morris encountered Murphy in the gas station parking lot and "an exchange of gunfire occurred … the suspect was struck multiple times."

Murphy fired on Morris before Morris exited his vehicle, according to state police.

State police are investigating the shooting at the request of the Stanford Police Department.

Officer Morris has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, according to officials.

Investigators were setting up tripods Monday evening as they began to create a 3-D model of the crime scene.

Thornberry said that state police do not know of any bullets entering vehicles or causing any collateral damage.

Stanford police, Stanford EMS, Lincoln County EMS, Lincoln County Emergency Management personnel and Kentucky State Police all responded to the scene.

Ginger Leach of Eubank had left Walmart a few minutes earlier but then returned to gas station in front of Walmart for cigarettes when the gunfire began.

Leach said the shooter was still running around the parking lot, hiding in bushes and behind vehicles even after he was wounded.

"He ran right in front of my car," she said. "He had a hole in his lower stomach."

Leach said the shooter eventually lay down in a corner of the parking lot.