Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Boone County

FLORENCE, Ky. (July 4, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by Post 6 Dry Ridge to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Friday, July 3, 2026, around 9 p.m. EDT in Boone County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that officers with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) were responding to a domestic violence complaint involving shots fired. Upon arrival, officers encountered an off-duty Florence Police Department (FPD) officer, Dustin Zink, who was armed, displaying a weapon while threatening both self-harm and harm to others at the scene. Officers attempted to negotiate with Mr. Zink; however, those efforts were unsuccessful. During the negotiations, Mr. Zink fired his weapon multiple times, prompting four BCSO deputies to discharge their agency-issued firearms, striking the suspect. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until EMS arrived. Mr. Zink was transported to the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. 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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