Funeral service begins for officer killed in line of duty

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) – The funeral service has begun for a central Kentucky police officer who was gunned down last week while investigating a robbery.
The service for 33-year-old Daniel Ellis began Wednesday morning with three officers saluting his flag-draped coffin at Eastern Kentucky University’s Alumni Coliseum, which seats 7,000. A

school statement says the service is being streamed to the nearby EKU Center for the Arts, which accommodates another 2,000 people.
Ellis died Friday, two days after being shot in the head while searching an apartment for a robbery suspect.
Thirty-four-year-old Raleigh Sizemore Jr. pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including murder of a police officer, attempted murder, unlawful imprisonment and possession of a handgun by a felon.
After the funeral, the procession will travel 100 miles to Adair County, where Ellis will be buried.

The funeral started at 11 a.m. Wednesday. To watch the funeral click here.

Officials say the coliseum seats 7,000 and an additional 2,000 seats will be reserved at the Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts is also where the general public will be allowed to park.

Eastern Kentucky University says there will be traffic delays because of the number of visitors there.

Drivers are asked to avoid the Eastern Bypass from Lancaster Avenue to Kit Carson Drive because it will be closed for funeral traffic.