Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Estill County
IRVINE, Ky. (March 20, 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 Thursday, March 19, 2026, around 10 p.m. EDT in Estill County.
The preliminary investigation indicates that officers from the Estill County Sheriff’s Office and the Irvine Police Department were attempting to make contact with Christopher M. Rose, 46, of Irvine, Ky., who had an active arrest warrant and search warrant for the property.
As officers approached the residence, Mr. Rose, who was located inside the residence, discharged several rounds from a firearm toward law enforcement and then barricaded himself inside. Deputies with the Estill County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Irvine Police Department returned fire, discharging their agency-issued weapons.
At that time, the Estill County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Kentucky State Police, including the KSP Special Response Team (SRT). KSP troopers and members of KSP SRT responded to the scene and attempted to contact Mr. Rose into the early morning hours. Members of KSP SRT later located him inside the residence, deceased, which was later confirmed by the Estill County Coroner’s Office. The Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the manner of death.
KSP was assisted at the scene by the Estill County Sheriff’s Office, Irvine Police Department, Estill County EMS and Estill County Coroner’s Office. The investigation 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 for completing investigations vary depending on the complexity of the case.
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