Tennessee Man Denied Bond in Kentucky Trooper's Killing
Emonnie Branch, 51, was denied bond Tuesday on a charge of murder of a first responder in the death of Kentucky State Trooper Hayden Phillips, a husband and father of three young boys who was shot during a traffic stop on Interstate 65.
A Tennessee man accused of gunning down a Kentucky state trooper during a traffic stop was ordered held without bond Tuesday, as authorities disclosed that he was already on probation and wanted for a violation at the time of the shooting.
Emonnie Branch, 51, faces a charge of murder of a first responder in the death of Trooper Hayden Phillips, a three-year state police veteran assigned to Post 3 in Bowling Green. Phillips, a husband and father of three young boys, was shot and killed Monday during a traffic stop on Interstate 65 in Warren County, according to Kentucky State Police.
Branch was denied bond during his arraignment, where Commonwealth's Attorney Kori Bumgarner described his record in blunt terms. «Looks like he has a very extensive and varied criminal history,» Bumgarner said.
Tennessee Department of Correction records show Branch was serving five years of probation for a fraud-related conviction, with his supervision scheduled to run until July 2030. Sumner County District Attorney Thomas Dean told a Nashville television station that Branch was already wanted for a probation violation tied to his securities fraud conviction before Monday's shooting. His prior convictions include attempted domestic assault, violating a no-contact order and securities fraud, and court records show a 2009 conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was arrested twice this year for probation violations, the station reported.
Warren County Regional Jail records show Branch is being held without bond on the murder charge and a fugitive charge.
Authorities identified Branch as the suspect and issued a statewide Blue Alert before Louisville Metro Police captured him Monday evening. U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said during a Monday night briefing that Phillips «was senselessly murdered.»
«We have a wife that expected her husband to come home. We have three little boys who don't have a dad,» he said, adding: «One of our own was gunned down and murdered on the side of the road.»
The U.S. attorney pledged that the Justice Department would give state prosecutors and investigators «every tool» and «every bit of support» it could to help them pursue the maximum sentence.
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. condemned what he called the suspect's «cowardly actions» and explained why he had mentioned his name only once.
«I want you to know I only mentioned his name one time,» Burnett said. «We will seek justice for Hayden. Let me repeat that, we will seek justice for Hayden. We will not rest until this happens.»
Burnett promised the trooper's family that the agency would stand beside them. «You will not walk this path alone,» he said.
Phillips' wife, Jordan, shared her grief Tuesday in a social media post. «I've laid here all night waiting for him to come home… for the radio to click off, the gun belt to hang,» she wrote. «I promise to pick up all the pieces and force myself to carry on for your boys. I know you would want me to.»
She asked people to share memories of her husband with their sons. «He was just the kind of guy who is easy to celebrate,» she wrote.
State police escorted Phillips' body to Glasgow on Tuesday. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. local time.
Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Sunday, Oct. 4, in honor of Phillips.
«Trooper Hayden Phillips was a hero who sacrificed everything protecting our people and our commonwealth, and it is our sacred duty to honor him and his family,» Beshear said.
The governor urged Kentuckians to pray for Jordan and their three children and encouraged donations to the Kentucky State Police Foundation, saying all proceeds would go directly to the family.
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