SIMPSON COUNTY, Ky. — One person is dead and a Simpson County sheriff’s deputy is in the hospital after a shooting this weekend in Allen County.

What You Need To Know

  • Simpson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Harper was shot trying to arrest an attempted murder suspect

  • The suspect was killed 

  • The officer-involved shooting happened following a car chase and day-long search

  • Harper received life threatening wounds but is recovering and listed in stable condition

The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office said Chief Deputy Brad Harper was shot while trying to arrest an attempted murder suspect who fled from a traffic stop on New Buck Creek Road in Allen County.

The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team investigates all officer-involved shootings.

According to a news release from KSP, Simpson County Sheriff’s officers were involved in a car chase with the suspect at 12:30 a.m. CST Saturday, Oct. 7. He disappeared, and they spent the day searching for him.

Simpson County Judge Executive Mason Barnes told Spectrum News 1, the deputy and other law enforcement officers eventually tracked down the suspect shortly after 5 p.m. CST, on Buck Creek Road. That’s when the shooting happened.

“The individual was surrounded, firing shots, and unfortunately, one of our deputies was hit,” Barnes said.

According to Kentucky State Police, Harper was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. But he is now in stable condition. It is not clear when deputy Harper will return to work. 

“We should all stand behind them and support them. I just ask everybody here in the community and the surrounding communities to be praying for these officers involved in this ordeal,” Barnes said. 

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