Kentucky State Police Investigates Trooper-Involved Shooting in Letcher County

WHITESBURG, Ky. (July 27, 2025) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by the Letcher County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and KSP Post 13 Hazard to investigate a trooper-involved shooting that occurred on July 26, 2025, at 7:39 p.m. EDT on KY-160 in Whitesburg. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that a LCSO Deputy and KSP Trooper responded to a report of a domestic disturbance involving alleged gunshots at a residence located off of KY-160. Upon arrival, the officers spoke to the reporting party and determined that the individual creating the disturbance was located at the neighboring residence. The officers made contact with Mr. Julian Smith, 25 years old, of Jeremiah, Ky. Upon Mr. Smith seeing the officers, he fled into a nearby wooded area at which point Mr. Smith brandished a pistol. The officers discharged their agency-issued weapons, striking the man. Both officers provided medical aid until EMS arrived. Mr. Smith was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center, where he is in stable condition. The officers did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

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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