Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Boyle County

DANVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by Post 7 Richmond to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, around 9:40 p.m. EST in Boyle County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the Danville Police Department received a call about an armed, suicidal subject at an apartment complex located at Centre Estates Drive in Danville, Ky. When officers arrived, the individual, later identified as Cody Downey, 29, of Danville, charged officers with a knife. One officer fired his agency issued weapon, striking Mr. Downey. Officers performed life-saving measures until EMS arrived and transported Mr. Downey to Ephraim McDowell Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by the Boyle County Coroner’s Office. No officers were injured during this incident.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing. KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.

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