Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Boone County

FLORENCE, Ky. (April 29, 2025) -The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 29, at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET on Industrial Road in Florence, Ky.

The preliminary investigation indicates BCSO and the Florence Police Department (FPD) responded to a call of a stolen semi-truck. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon stopping, the occupant of the vehicle, Michael Simpson, 35 years old of Cleves, OH., exited the vehicle and was noncompliant with the officer’s commands, which resulted in a physical altercation. Mr. Simpson brandished a firearm and pointed it toward his head. He then began walking to an industrial park area and was followed by responding officers. At one point during the incident, two BCSO deputies fired their agency-issued weapons. Mr. Simpson sustained injuries and was transported to a medical facility, where he was pronounced deceased. One FPD officer sustained minor injuries during the initial altercation at the traffic stop.

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 have been gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.

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