THE APEX TIMES
KSP investigating officer-involved shooting that killed off-duty Florence police officer in Boone County
Kentucky State Police say its Critical Incident Response Team is investigating a fatal shooting after Boone County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence call involving shots fired and threats at a home near Florence.
Kentucky State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Boone County that left an off-duty Florence Police Department officer dead. The incident was reported around 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3, following a call tied to domestic violence and shots fired, according to KSP and local reporting.
KSP said its Critical Incident Response Team was requested to investigate the shooting after Boone County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report. The follow-up investigation described an encounter in which deputies encountered Dustin Zink, 37, of Florence, who was identified as an off-duty Florence officer, and who was allegedly armed and threatening self-harm and harm to others during the incident.
Multiple reports said investigators attempted to negotiate during the incident. KSP said that, during negotiations, Zink fired his weapon multiple times. In response, four Boone County deputies fired back, striking him, the reports said.
After the shooting, Zink was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence, where he was later pronounced dead, according to WLWT and KSP’s description of its preliminary findings. Boone County Coroner’s Office notifications were reported by KSP as occurring around 11:40 p.m., and next of kin were said to have been notified.
KSP said the investigation is ongoing and that additional information will be released as interviews are conducted and facts are gathered. Both WAVE and WLWT characterized the state role as routine in Kentucky for officer-involved shootings, with KSP taking lead responsibility while local and coroner processes proceed.
Boone County Sheriff’s Office deputies were involved in the shooting, according to the reporting, and the incident occurred in a residential area near Florence. KSP’s Critical Incident Response Team is now working to determine the sequence of events, including what was known to deputies at each stage and how the situation escalated, as part of the statewide review process for use-of-force incidents.
No charges were announced in the initial reporting, and no additional details about the domestic violence complaint or any potential prior calls were provided beyond what was described in the preliminary summaries. The release of further findings will depend on interviews, evidence collection, and coordination among investigators, prosecutors, and the coroner’s office, KSP said.
Why It Matters
- The case highlights Kentucky’s officer-involved shooting process, with KSP taking lead through its Critical Incident Response Team after the initial response by local deputies.
- A domestic violence call escalated into a fatal use-of-force incident, underscoring the public-safety stakes for future de-escalation and emergency response practices.
- The timeline for notification and investigation is already in motion, including coroner notification and ongoing evidence collection before any further public findings.
- The officer’s family and the affected community may face uncertainty until KSP completes interviews and evidence review and determines what information can be released.
Sources
Key Facts
- Kentucky State Police said its Critical Incident Response Team was requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting reported around 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3.
- Boone County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence complaint that involved shots fired, according to KSP and local reporting.
- KSP said deputies encountered Dustin Zink, 37, of Florence, an off-duty Florence Police Department officer, who was armed and allegedly threatening self-harm and harm to others.
- KSP said Zink fired his weapon multiple times during negotiations, and four deputies returned fire, striking him.
- Zink was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence and later pronounced dead, and the Boone County Coroner’s Office was notified around 11:40 p.m.
- KSP said next of kin were notified and that the investigation is ongoing, with additional details to be released as interviews and evidence gathering continue.