He’s already been sentenced in federal court, but Keith Kuzyk was arraigned Thursday morning in Christian Circuit Court for the February, 2019 shooting of Hopkinsville Police Officer Jeremy Davidson.
Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins accepted a not guilty plea on behalf of Kuzyk to charges of attempted murder of a police officer, first-degree assault, felony auto theft, first-degree wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property and fleeing or evading police, and appointed public defender Rick Sanborne to represent him.
A pretrial hearing was set for May 19, to give the defense time to go over a significant amount of evidence in the case.
Kuzyk pled guilty on August 20 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. 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.
A pair of vehicle pursuits ensued following the vehicle theft and Kuzyk allegedly shot Officer Davidson on the arm and head at the end of a pursuit near the intersection of North Drive and Sanderson Drive.
Kuzyk was arrested the next morning after allegedly stealing another automobile in Hopkinsville and then leading police in Montgomery County in a pursuit.