BOWLING GREEN, KY — A Kentucky State Police trooper was shot and killed while on duty on Interstate 65 in Warren County, and authorities later took a suspect into custody. KSP identified the trooper as Hayden Phillips, 30, who was patrolling near Bowling Green when the shooting happened.
Investigators said Phillips pulled over a vehicle before the driver shot him. A statewide Blue Alert was issued after the attack and later canceled once police arrested the suspect. KSP said the case is now being handled by Post 3 in Bowling Green.
Traffic stop on I-65 ended in gunfire
According to Kentucky State Police, the shooting happened after Phillips stopped a car while working interstate patrol in Warren County. The location was on I-65, near Bowling Green, about 210 miles southwest of Cincinnati.
Phillips died from his injuries after the shooting. KSP said the suspect fired after being pulled over, though investigators have not publicly described what led to the stop. Police said the incident remains under investigation, and they asked anyone with information to call 911 immediately.
Suspect identified as Emonnie Branch after Blue Alert
Police identified the suspect as Emonnie Branch, 51. Louisville Metro Police Department officers took Branch into custody, which led officials to cancel the Blue Alert that had been issued across the state.
Branch has been charged with murder of a first responder or peace officer. Kentucky State Police have not said when he was formally charged or provided additional details about the arrest, but the agency said its Bowling Green post is leading the investigation.
KSP says Phillips was a Post 3 trooper and Cadet Class 103 graduate
KSP Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. said Phillips was assigned to Post 3 in Bowling Green and graduated from Cadet Class 103. Burnett said Phillips’ dedication to duty and commitment to Kentucky will not be forgotten.
The agency’s description of Phillips focused on his work as a trooper and his service in the commonwealth. KSP did not release more background about his career, but the public statement made clear that he died in the line of duty while carrying out patrol responsibilities on the interstate.
Governor Beshear calls Phillips a hero and father of three
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement that he and his wife, Britainy, were praying for Phillips’ family. Beshear called the trooper a hero who dedicated himself to protecting the commonwealth and said Phillips was a devoted husband and father of three children.
Attorney General Russell Coleman also praised Phillips as one of Kentucky’s finest and said detectives from his office were on the scene and would continue supporting state police. Both statements reflected the broad response from state officials after the shooting.
Law enforcement condolences spread across Kentucky and Indiana
Reaction to Phillips’ death quickly spread beyond state government. Indiana State Police posted condolences for Phillips’ family and friends on social media, joining Kentucky leaders and law enforcement agencies in expressing sympathy.
The shooting has renewed attention on the risks faced by officers working roadside stops and interstate patrols. KSP has not said whether additional officers were involved in the encounter, and the agency has not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop.
Bowling Green investigation continues as police seek information
KSP Post 3 in Bowling Green is handling the investigation into the shooting. State police said the public should contact 911 with any information tied to the case, as detectives work to piece together the events that led to Phillips’ death.
The incident brought a fast sequence of response measures, from the Blue Alert to the arrest of Branch and the later wave of public statements from officials. For Kentucky State Police, the focus remains on the investigation and on the loss of a trooper killed while on duty in Warren County.
When the weather turns dangerous, SVH Snow is watching.
