Authorities in Kentucky say a gunman is dead after he opened fire on a Scott County deputy during an attempted fugitive arrest.

According to WAVE, 57-year-old Edward Reynolds was wanted as a fugitive out of Florida on a warrant related to a July bank robbery. He was the subject of a joint mission by deputies, police officers from Georgetown, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities say they located the suspect at a rest area near Georgetown late Tuesday evening.

When officers attempted to engage Reynolds, he reportedly opened fire, striking 28-year-old Jaime Morales. The injured deputy was transported to an area hospital, which listed his condition as critical.

In response, officers fatally shot Reynolds.

Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton praised Reynolds’ service in the department, calling him “an outstanding deputy” who came to the agency after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He reiterated that the department is “in shock” after hearing the news.

“We just ask that everyone keep Jaime’s family and Jaime in their thoughts and prayers,” Hampton said. “Also please keep our family here at the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies in this community in your thoughts and prayers and help us get through this critical time.”

Though Reynolds patrolled a small and generally low-crime county, the sheriff said no law enforcement career is safe.

“It doesn’t matter how big or how small the community you’re in,” he said.

Without revealing anything further about the deputy’s condition, Hampton told reporters what he said to Morales upon visiting him in the hospital.

“I told him I loved him and that we all loved him and that we would be with him and he’s going to get through this and we’re all going to pull together to help him through it,” the sheriff said. “It doesn’t matter what deputy, who it is, whether it be me or any other deputy here, we’re going to be there, no matter how minor or how serious the injury is. Unfortunately, this injury is pretty serious.”

Hampton expressed his gratitude for the support from locals and fellow law enforcement agencies from across Kentucky and beyond.

[Featured image: Jaime Morales/Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Edward Reynolds/Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department]