Full Breakdown
Kentucky State Trooper Hayden Phillips Killed in Highway Shooting; Suspect Apprehended
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Monday, a Kentucky State Police trooper was fatally shot while patrolling northbound Interstate 65 in Warren County. Trooper Hayden Phillips, assigned to the Bowling Ground post (Unit 369, Cadet Class 103), was killed near the 38-mile marker. A Blue Alert was issued for a bluish-gray 2025 Honda Civic bearing an Alabama temporary tag (TN018596). Later that evening, Louisville police took the suspect into custody.
Key Figures & Groups
- Hayden Phillips – Kentucky State Police trooper, Unit 369, killed in the line of duty.
- Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. – Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, issued agency statements.
- Emonnie Branch – Identified by a state Blue Alert as a Black male with dreadlocks, alleged suspect in the shooting.
- Louisville Police Department – Executed the arrest of the suspect.
Timeline
- Monday, early afternoon – Trooper Phillips is shot on I-65 near mile marker 38.
- Shortly after – Kentucky State Police activate a Blue Alert, describing the suspect vehicle and describing the suspect as armed and dangerous.
- Mid-afternoon – The highway is closed at mile marker 30; drivers are rerouted.
- Evening – Louisville police confirm the suspect’s arrest; the Blue Alert is cancelled.
- Night – Kentucky State Police hold a news conference in Bowling Ground.
Data & Statistics
- Location: Northbound I-65, Warren County, near mile marker 38.
- Vehicle: 2025 Honda Civic, bluish-gray, Alabama temporary tag TN018596.
- Suspect description (when released): Black male, dreadlocks, armed and dangerous.
- Trooper details: Unit 369, graduated Cadet Class 103, assigned to Bowling Ground post.
Official Statements & Responses
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. Speaker of the Kentucky House David Osborne issued a statement offering condolences and pledging continued support for Phillips’s family and fellow troopers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our hearts break for Trooper Phillips’ family, loved ones, and fellow troopers as we grieve this tremendous loss,” — Col. Phillip Burnett Jr, said KSP commissioner
- “Hayden was a hero who dedicated himself to protecting our commonwealth,” — Governor Andy Beshear