WARREN COUNTY, KY — A suspect is in custody after a Monday afternoon shooting on Interstate 65 in Warren County killed Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, authorities said. Kentucky State Police confirmed late Monday that the suspect was charged with first-degree murder of a first responder.
Investigators said Phillips had stopped a vehicle around 2 p.m. CT when he was shot. The vehicle then fled, triggering a large search by multiple agencies. Louisville Metro Police later arrested the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Emonnie Branch of Portland, Tennessee, on Dixie Highway.
Traffic stop on I-65 ended with a fatal shooting
Kentucky State Police said Phillips was working a traffic stop in Warren County when the shooting happened. The encounter escalated quickly, and the trooper was killed at the scene.
After the shooting, the vehicle left the area and officers began an extensive search for the suspect and the car believed to be involved. Authorities have not said what led to the stop or what happened in the moments before the shooting.
The case unfolded on a busy stretch of interstate, and the highway closure that followed affected drivers heading through central Kentucky. Police continued processing the scene Monday evening as investigators tried to piece together the sequence of events.
Police identified the suspect and later made an arrest in Louisville
The suspect was identified by Kentucky State Police as Emonnie Branch, 51, of Portland, Tennessee. Louisville Metro Police arrested him on Dixie Highway after the manhunt moved beyond the immediate Warren County area.
KSP said Branch was charged with first-degree murder of a first responder. That charge reflects the killing of an officer performing official duties, and it came after agencies coordinated a search across multiple jurisdictions.
Authorities also linked the search to a blueish-gray Honda Civic with a temporary Alabama tag, numbered TN01859. Police had been looking for that vehicle after the shooting, and the Blue Alert tied to the case was later canceled.
Blue Alert issued as agencies searched for the getaway vehicle
Kentucky State Police issued a Blue Alert shortly after the shooting to warn the public and help find the vehicle connected to the case. The alert described the car as a blueish-gray Honda Civic with a temporary Alabama tag.
That warning covered the active search period while officers tried to locate the suspect and the car. KSP later canceled the alert after the arrest was made.
The agency said several law enforcement partners were involved in the response. The search stretched across a wider area as officers tried to track the suspect after the stop turned fatal.
KSP and state leaders mourn Trooper Hayden Phillips
Post 3 Public Affairs Officer Trooper Katan Parker described Phillips as a special colleague and asked the public to keep the trooper’s family and the agency in their thoughts and prayers. Parker said the department had lost a brother and would miss him deeply.
Kentucky State Police said in a statement that its members were grieving a tremendous loss and would honor Phillips’ life and service. The agency said it would stand together in the days ahead to support his family.
State leaders also responded. Gov. Andy Beshear called Phillips a hero, saying he was devoted to protecting Kentucky and was a husband and father of three. Attorney General Russell Coleman said detectives from his office were on the scene and would continue supporting state police.
I-65 closure and investigation continue near the 39 mile marker
Northbound I-65 remained shut down near the 39 mile marker while investigators processed the scene. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and use the detour at Exit 30.
The closure affected a major route through Warren County, and officials did not say when the highway would fully reopen. The investigation was still active Monday evening as officers continued working at the scene.
Kentucky State Police said the case was still developing, and additional information was expected as the inquiry moved forward. The agency has asked anyone with information, photos or video to contact the LEX18 newsroom.
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