Suspect in shooting death of Kentucky deputy also shot at a state trooper earlier

A suspect in the fatal shooting of a Kentucky deputy sheriff had shot at a Kentucky State Police officer minutes earlier, according to a news release.

The shootings happened in Russell Springs Sept. 16 and resulted in the deaths of Joshua Phipps, a deputy with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and Joshua George Arnold, 41, according to an update state police released Tuesday.

The shootings happened after Jake Smith, a state police officer, stopped a vehicle in Russell Springs .

The driver stopped but then drove away, according to the release.

Police later identified the driver as Arnold.

The trooper chased the vehicle for a short distance until Arnold drove behind a house on Bluebird Drive.

When he got out of the car, Arnold fired several shots at Smith with a pistol, then ran away, police said.

Smith was not hurt.

Several other officers went to the scene to help look for Arnold.

Phipps went into a camper trailer during the search, and officers outside heard multiple gunshots inside the camper, according to the release.

When other officers entered the camper they found Arnold and Phipps both had life-threatening injuries.

Both were pronounced dead at the Russell County Hospital.

Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston said Phipps, 38, had been with the sheriff’s office since early 2021. Phipps had been an officer in Louisville before that and was a “very good” officer, Polston said.

“Deputy Phipps passed away doing what he loved, serving and protecting the community,” his obituary said .

Phipps is survived by his parents, a sister and several other family members.

A man named Joshua George Arnold with a date of birth consistent with that of the man involved in Phipps’ death had been charged in Russell County in January with drug trafficking, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, menacing and tampering with physical evidence, according to the court record.

Arnold failed to appear at his arraignment in February and was still listed as a fugitive in the court record when he died.

He also faced an indictment on charges of being a felon in possession of a gun, alcohol intoxication, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and being a persistent felony offender, according to the court record.