Kentucky State Trooper shot during traffic stop shares his story: ‘Good outweighs the bad’

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Kentucky State Trooper is sharing his story for the first time after being shot during a traffic stop in Lexington last month.

“You learn that there is no certain traffic stop; it can change at any moment,” said KSP Trooper Jude Remilien.

On the morning of July 13th, that lesson became reality.

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Trooper Remilien was making a traffic stop near the Blue Grass Airport terminal that morning.

“I went up to the driver and asked for driver’s license and proof of insurance, if there were any occupants in the car, and then things just kind of got out of hand,” Remilien said.

In a matter of seconds, a gun was drawn, and Trooper Remilien was shot in the leg.

Bleeding and in pain, he found himself relying on the strangers around him.

“They didn’t hesitate to jump in and offer their assistance to me,” added Remilien. “Their help really saved my life.”

Police said the shooter went on to shoot four more people at a Lexington church, killing two, before police took him down.

As for Trooper Remilien, his journey since that day has been long, marked by four surgeries, two weeks in the hospital, and countless hours of recovery.

But now, he’s finally home.

“I’m making good progress, just improving every day.”

And while his body heals, it’s the love and support that’s been his strongest medicine.

“Got a lady who sent me a quilt from Oregon, kids drawing pictures from elementary school, and Kentucky State Police Foundation for the t-shirt sales, it’s just been such a great experience to see the amount of people that have come together to show me support.”

His return to duty remains uncertain, but Trooper Remilien said he’s taking his recovery one day at a time.

“At the end of the day, there’s this one bad guy, and there’s millions of good people that have come together,” Remilien added. “Just know the good outweighs the bad.”