A jury has found Keith Kuzyk guilty of attempted murder and other charges for his role in the 2019 shooting of Officer Jeremy Davidson at the end of a pursuit in Hopkinsville.
The jury began deliberating around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon and returned just under an hour later, with Judge John Atkins reading the unanimous verdicts that found Kuzyk guilty of attempted murder, first-degree wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police and theft by unlawful taking over $10,000.
Trial lasted two days for Kuzyk and saw numerous witnesses, including two of his co-defendants and Officer Davidson himself—who sustained gunshot wounds to the arm and head in 2019, for which he was treated and released from Skyline Medical Center. Public defender Rick Sanborn argued during closing statements that whoever the shooter was, they were not aiming to kill the officer but instead to disable his cruiser—he asked the jury to hold him accountable in accordance to the law.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling called those closing statements confusing, and says that by not have a clear argument it shows that Kuzyk shows no remorse or responsibility for the injuries Officer Davidson sustained.
After a brief deliberation, the jury found Kuzyk to be a persistent felony offender and gave a recommended sentence of life in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving 85 percent. Final sentencing was set for October 27
Kuzyk had already pled guilty on August 20 of last year in U.S. District Court to carjacking, use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the incident. That plea deal came with an 18-year prison sentence.
As part of that deal, Kuzyk admitted to taking a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe by force at the Walmart Supercenter on Clinic Drive. He also admitted to using a gun to commit the carjacking.