Russell County magistrate and former first responder pays tribute to fallen deputy

A southern Kentucky community is grieving after the shooting death of a sheriff’s deputy Monday night. State police say Russell County Deputy Josh Phipps was helping them apprehend a suspect who’d fled on foot when gunshots were exchanged and Phipps was wounded. He died later at Russell County Hospital. Magistrate Larry Skaggs is a former county coroner, sheriff’s deputy and Russell Springs police officer and city council member.

“We're a pretty close-knit community and you don't have to be here very long to become part of us, you know.”

Skaggs said he didn’t know Phipps well, but agreed with another community member who told WEKU that Phipps loved Russell County and its people.

“He did. He did. He was a very, always willing to lend a hand if he could. Of course, that kind of goes for most of the people in this county. It's just one of them counties where you just, if you're here very long, you become part of it.”

According to state police, who’re conducting the investigation, the suspect was also fatally shot. Russell County public schools were closed Tuesday to honor Phipps.

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