Alabama officer shot dead during chase had 2 kids, 1 on the way: Mayor

The Kimberly Police Department officer was shot during a pursuit Tuesday night.

February 5, 2020, 1:59 PM

An Alabama community is in mourning after a young police officer was gunned down in the line of duty.

The slain police officer, Nick O'Rear, was a father of two and had a third child on the way, said Kimberly Mayor Bob Ellerbrock.

An undated photo of Kimberly police officer Nick O'Rear posted to his Facebook page. O'Rear died in the line of duty Feb. 4, 2020.
Courtesy family of Nick O'Rear

O'Rear was helping a neighboring community with a car chase on Interstate 65 Tuesday night when he was "ambushed" and shot, Ellerbrock said at a Wednesday news conference.

O'Rear was rushed to a Birmingham hospital but his wounds were fatal.

Kimberly is located about 20 miles north of Birmingham.

A suspect is in custody and is being held on no bond, Ellerbrock said. Capital murder charges are pending, the mayor said.

O'Rear had been a member of the Kimberly Police Department for about one year, the mayor said.

Family and friends comfort one another at a press conference in Kimberly, Ala., Jan. 5, 2020, the day after police officer Nick O'Rear was shot and killed in the line of duty.
WMBA-TV

"Alabama has lost another brave officer whose end of watch came too soon while protecting and serving his community," tweeted Jay Town, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. "We all mourn during this tragic time for this officer, his family, and the Kimberly PD."

"The violence against law enforcement is maddening," Town added.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she spoke with the slain officer’s family Wednesday morning.

“His sacrifice will never be forgotten,” she said in a statement.