A Leitchfield man is in serious condition in a Louisville hospital after being shot Friday (Nov. 18) by Kentucky State Police troopers after he allegedly endangered the lives of the troopers by backing up his car toward them in what was described as an “aggressive manner.”

According to the KSP, two troopers from Post 4 in Elizabethtown, Seth Payne and Norman Chaffins, along with two detectives from the Drug Task Force and a Fish and Wildlife officer went to the St. Clair Motel in Falls of Rough in an attempt to serve a warrant on James “Jamie” Lon Horton, 27, for wanton endangerment, persistent felony offender and fleeing-evading police.

Troopers were reportedly aware that there was a potential for violence, as Horton had allegedly made statements that he would “not return to prison” on several occasions.

KSP Public Affairs Officer Steve Pavey said that officers then surrounded the motel area and ordered Horton out of his room by calling to him on their public address system.

It was at that point, Pavey said, that Horton came out of the room holding his girlfriend, Jessica Duvall, 23, of Leitchfield, at gunpoint and reportedly made threats to kill her if the officers did not back off.

Horton then reportedly got into his vehicle with Duvall and then backed his vehicle up “in an aggressive manner” towards the officers who were standing outside of their vehicles.

Pavey said it was then that the two troopers opened fire on Horton, who was still armed and trying to flee the scene.

Police then pursued Horton south on KY 79 at “a high rate of speed” and then west on U.S. 62 into Ohio County.

During the chase, according to reports, Horton was firing at the officers from his car.

After troopers from KSP Post 16 in Henderson deployed stinger spikes along the highway, three of the four tires on Horton's vehicle were flattened.

Once his vehicle was stopped, Pavey said, Horton then fled on foot into a nearby wooded area about four miles east of Beaver Dam, where he was apprehended a short time later, around 2:45 p.m.

Pavey said that as a result of the incident, Horton was wounded in the head-neck area and was flown by Stat Care to University Hospital in Louisville where he was listed in serious condition.

Horton was charged, Pavey said, with several counts of attempted murder, several counts of wanton endangerment, persistent felony offender, receiving stolen property and fleeing/evading police.