RICHMOND, Kentucky -- Richmond police officer Daniel Ellis died early Friday, less than two days after an ex-convict who fled parole allegedly hid in an apartment bedroom and shot him, authorities said.
"The Richmond Police Department is extremely grateful for the prayers and support that have been extended to Officer Daniel Ellis, his family, friends, and fellow officers," according to a press release from Kentucky State Police trooper Robert Purdy. "They ask that you continue to pray for them as they grieve this tremendous loss, and that the privacy of the family is respected during this very difficult and trying time."
Information on funeral arrangements will be release after services are planned over the next few days, Purdy said.
"It's just heartbreaking," Richmond Mayor Jim Barnes told The Associated Press. "It's an emotional time for everyone in the community. Those guys work so hard to protect the city."
Hundreds gathered Thursday night at St. Mark Catholic Church in Richmond to pray for Ellis. Ellis died shortly before 2 a.m. at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital where he had been treated since the shooting, Purdy said in the release.
Rev. Jim Sichko, pastor at St. Mark, announced Friday morning that the church would be open for quiet prayer until 6 p.m. He invited anyone who wanted to come
Ellis, 33, was shot in the head Wednesday morning while investigating an attempted robbery at the Gulf station on Main Street. The investigation led the seven-year department veteran to Gregory Ratliff's Richmond apartment in search of Raleigh Sizemore Jr., 34. Sizemore hid with Rita Creech, 44, in a bedroom, police said.
Creech told police Sizemore forced her to go into the bedroom by holding a gun to her head, according to police citations. Ratliff told police Sizemore ordered him not to let police in or Sizemore would shoot him. He allegedly had told Ratliff he didn't want to return to prison.
Ratliff, 25, admitted to lying to Ellis, telling the officer no one was in the home and no weapons were in the apartment, according to the court citations.
Sizemore admitted to shooting Ellis as Ellis entered the bedroom, according to a police report. He also admitted to firing at other officers as they entered the apartment to help Ellis. Sizemore also was wounded.
Sizemore was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer and Ratliff was charged with complicity. Those charges are likely to be changed with Ellis' death. Creech, of Richmond, was charged with first-degree robbery.
Sizemore has been moved from the Madison County jail to Jefferson County because his presence was a "conflict of interest" for officers that new Ellis, deputy jailer Jeremy LaGrange said.
Ratliff and Sizemore are still at the Madison County jail, LaGrange said.
Creech told police Sizemore attempted to rob a woman at the Gulf station with a gun after being driven there in a Toyota Sienna minivan, according to the police citations. Creech admitted she was in the front passenger seat of the van, and Sizemore told her he lost his wrist watch during the attempted robbery.
Copyright 2015 Lexington Herald-Leader
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