Kentucky State Police said Trooper Hayden Phillips was fatally shot Monday while patrolling along northbound Interstate 65 in Warren County. A suspect was later apprehended in Louisville, according to statements posted by state police and reporting adapted from the Associated Press via Headline USA.
What police say happened
In a statement on social media, Kentucky State Police said Phillips, based out of Bowling Green in south‑central Kentucky, was shot while on patrol along I‑65 northbound in Warren County. Authorities issued a search for a suspect and for a Honda Civic with an Alabama license plate that was present at the scene of the shooting. State police later announced that the suspect had been taken into custody by police in Louisville. The suspect was not immediately identified. State police said they planned a news conference Monday night in Bowling Green.
Tributes and official statements
“Our hearts break for Trooper Phillips’ family, loved ones, and fellow troopers as we grieve this tremendous loss,” Kentucky State Police Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. said in the agency’s statement. “We will carry his memory with us, honor the life he lived and the badge he wore, and stand together as an agency to support this family in the days ahead.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Phillips “a hero who dedicated himself to protecting our commonwealth,” according to the same reporting.
The Kentucky State Police also posted a tribute on social media that read, “Rest Easy U/369. We have it from here.”
What remains unknown
As of the latest statements cited above, authorities have not released the suspect’s identity, potential charges, or additional details about the circumstances of the shooting.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press via Headline USA and from Kentucky State Police public statements.
