Freddrick 'Freddie' O'Bannon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 37-year-old father of five was shot and killed, and an officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department was shot early Friday morning on I-264 in Shively.

The shooting was reported around 2:45 a.m. Friday on the Watterson Expressway near Dixie Highway.

That's where an LMPD officer was working a traffic detail as construction crews with Louisville Paving and Construction were setting up for routine maintenance when he heard a gunshot, according to LMPD Chief Erika Shields.

According to court documents, the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Keyshaun Joseph Canard Stewart, walked up to a highway maintenance worker who was sitting in his work truck and fired a shot into the truck, killing him.

Family members and the Jefferson County Coroner's Office have since identified that construction worker as 37-year-old Freddrick "Freddie" O'Bannon, a father of five who also leaves behind a fiancé.

After shooting O'Bannon, police say Stewart then walked over to the police car and shot the officer, who has not been identified. The officer was able to chase down Stewart and shot him a "couple times," per Chief Shields.

Stewart was arrested and taken to the hospital. He is expected to recover. According to court documents, he is charged with murder, attempted murder of a police officer, attempted first-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police (on foot) and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

The officer was also taken to the hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Police are not sure of Stewart's motive or where exactly he came from before shooting. According to court documents, Stewart has a prior felony conviction and was forbidden to possess a firearm at the time of the shooting.

The family of O'Bannon, the construction worker killed in the attack, mourned his loss Friday morning. Nezze Wilson, his sister, says he was well loved and always there for her.

"I had gun violence against me back in March of last year," she said. "He was the first person on scene thinking something happened to me. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget it."

I-264 was shut down in both directions at Dixie Highway at the time of the investigation. Dixie Highway was also shut down from the I-264 ramps to Crums Lane.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Kentucky State Police said it will be leading the investigation into the incident, at the request of LMPD. This is standard procedure in an investigation after an LMPD officer fires his or her weapon.

Late Friday morning, Hunter Strickler, executive vice president of Louisville Paving and Construction, issued a statement on O'Bannon's death, noting that he had been a "highly respected and committed" employee in the company's traffic control division since April 2020.

"Needless to say, our entire team is devastated by the loss of Fred, and we stand committed to support his family and team members through this tragedy," said Strickler, in the statement. "We ask that everyone join us in keeping Fred, his family and his friends in your thoughts and prayers."

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