Tennessee man charged in fatal shooting of Kentucky State Police trooper

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., (KBSI) — A Tennessee man accused of fatally shooting a Kentucky State Police trooper during a traffic stop on Interstate 65 is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning.

Emonnie Branch, 51, of Portland, Tennessee, is charged with murder of a first responder/peace officer in connection with the death of Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips. Branch’s arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Kentucky State Police said Phillips was conducting a traffic stop around 2 p.m. Monday on I-65 in Warren County when he was shot by an occupant of the vehicle. The shooting happened near mile marker 38 in the Smiths Grove area. The vehicle then fled the scene.

Authorities launched a search for the suspect and issued a Blue Alert for a bluish-gray Honda Civic connected to the shooting.

Law enforcement later located Branch and the vehicle in Jefferson County, about 94 miles northeast of the shooting scene. Louisville police took Branch into custody, and Kentucky State Police canceled the Blue Alert.

Authorities said Branch will be returned to Warren County to face the murder charge.

Phillips, 30, was assigned to Kentucky State Police Post 3 in Bowling Green and was a graduate of Cadet Class 103. He had served with Kentucky State Police for three years. Phillips leaves behind a wife and three children.

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said Phillips’ dedication to duty and commitment to the commonwealth would not be forgotten.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear described Phillips as a hero who dedicated himself to protecting the commonwealth.

Authorities have not publicly released details about why Phillips stopped the vehicle or exactly what happened immediately before the shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing.