WARREN COUNTY — Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips was killed in the line of duty while patrolling Interstate 65 in Warren County on September 28, 2026. A BLUE Alert was issued Monday around 3:30 p.m. for a suspect wanted in connection with a serious attack on a law enforcement officer.

The suspect was last seen in Warren County on Interstate 65 near the 75-mile marker and was described as driving a bluish gray 2025 Honda Civic with temporary Alabama plates. State police reported the suspect had been taken into custody around 7 p.m.

Trooper Phillips was assigned to the Kentucky State Police drug interdiction unit at Post 3 in Bowling Green. He served with the Glasgow Police Department before joining the Kentucky State Police in 2023 and was a graduate of Cadet Class 103.

Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed Trooper Phillips was shot. "Hayden was a hero who dedicated himself to protecting our commonwealth," Beshear said. "Even more, he was a devoted husband and loving father to three children." He added that Phillips’ sacrifice would not be forgotten.

Timeline

On 2026-09-28, KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. stated, "Our hearts break for Trooper Phillips’ family, loved ones, and fellow troopers as we grieve this tremendous loss." Gov. Beshear stated, "Hayden was a hero who dedicated himself to protecting our commonwealth" on 2026-09-28. He said the trooper was also a devoted husband and loving father to three children. House of Representatives Speaker Patrick Osborne stated, "There are no words that can adequately express our sympathy to Trooper Phillips’s family, friends, and loved ones" on 2026-09-28. KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. stated, "His dedication to duty and commitment to the commonwealth will not be forgotten" on 2026-09-28.

What's New

Trooper Hayden Phillips was assigned to the Kentucky State Police drug interdiction unit at Post 3 in Bowling Green, where he worked on high-risk operations targeting narcotics trafficking. Trooper Hayden Phillips was a graduate of Cadet Class 103, which is the Kentucky State Police's standard training program for new troopers, indicating his formal law enforcement education and certification. The shooting occurred on I-65 northbound near mile marker 38 in Warren County.

Gov. Beshear described Phillips as a hero who dedicated himself to protecting Kentucky and expressed his condolences to Phillips' family. Trooper Hayden Phillips served with the Glasgow Police Department before joining the Kentucky State Police in 2023, indicating prior law enforcement experience.

Why It Matters

The death of Trooper Hayden Phillips marks the third line-of-duty fatality for Kentucky State Police Post 3 since 2010, showing specific risks associated with this unit's drug interdiction operations. His killing triggers a BLUE Alert and mobilizes multiple law enforcement agencies across the state to locate suspects involved in attacks on officers. The incident leaves behind a husband and father of three, reflecting the personal toll exacted on families when troopers are killed during high-risk patrols on Interstate 65.