By Mark Maynard
Kentucky Today
An eastern Kentucky town is reeling after one of its police officers was murdered in the line of duty earlier this week.
Officer Scotty Hamilton
Scotty Hamilton was killed Tuesday after responding to a call with Kentucky State Police in the Hurricane Creek community in Pikeville around 11:30 p.m., according to the city. He had been a member of the police department for a dozen years.
KSP said Hamilton and Trooper Matt Martin were patrolling the area when they saw a suspicious vehicle. The officers spoke with people in the vehicle and then separated as they searched around a nearby residence for someone on foot.
After hearing at least three gunshots, Martin found Hamilton near the residence with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, police said. The shooter escaped and has since been arrested.
Kentucky State Police arrested a person of interest in the shooting death of Hamilton.
John Russell Hall was taken into custody around 11 a.m. Thursday in the Betsy Layne area. Hall lived in the Hurricane Creek area of Pikeville.
Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene. He is survived by a wife and one infant child.
John Russell Hall was arrested Thursday as a person of interest in the murder of Hamilton (Kentucky State Police photo)
Police arrested four people at the scene on charges unrelated to the shooting, and that police are searching for the alleged shooter.
Hamilton had worked several investigations with the KSP. The area had been known for high drug trafficking activity.
The City of Pikeville went into an immediate state of mourning for Officer Hamilton.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Pikeville Police Department at (606) 437-5111 or the Kentucky State Police Post 9 at (606) 433-7711.
