Kentucky State Police Investigates Trooper-Involved Shooting in Union County

MORGANFIELD, Ky. (Aug. 7, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by KSP Post 16 Henderson to investigate a trooper-involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, Aug. 6, shortly after 11:00 p.m. CT in Union County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a KSP trooper responded to assist the Morganfield Police Department (MPD) in locating a vehicle that had struck an MPD cruiser while officers were conducting an unrelated traffic stop. The trooper located the vehicle on US-60 west of Morganfield. Upon seeing the trooper, the suspect, identified as Josh Wallace, aged 50, of Sturgis, Ky., pulled to the shoulder of the roadway, and the trooper approached the car. As the trooper was walking up to the car, Mr. Wallace exited his vehicle and pointed a handgun at the trooper. In response to the imminent threat, the trooper discharged his agency-issued weapon, striking the man. The trooper rendered first aid until EMS arrived. Mr. Wallace was transported to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN, where he remains in stable condition. No other injuries were reported. 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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