A routine guardianship check in rural western Kentucky exploded into gunfire Thursday, leaving a retired Chicago SWAT veteran fighting for his life and the man he confronted dead at the scene.
Crittenden County sheriff’s Deputy Rick Coyle was critically wounded when shots rang out at a home near Sturgis as deputies and social services staff tried to serve emergency guardianship paperwork, according to state police. The suspect, identified as 60-year-old Ronnie Phillips, was fatally wounded in the exchange. Coyle, who retired from the Chicago Police Department before moving to Kentucky, was airlifted to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, where he remains in critical condition.
Scene and Preliminary Timeline
The Kentucky State Police says its Critical Incident Response Team was called in after the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office and staff from the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services went to 2807 KY-365 around 5 p.m. Thursday to serve the emergency guardianship paperwork. During the visit, gunfire broke out, shots were exchanged, and Phillips was struck and pronounced dead on site. A woman inside the home was safely removed, and no additional injuries were reported.
Kentucky State Police said several neighboring agencies responded to help secure the scene and that its investigation remains active.
Retired CPD SWAT Leader
Friends and former coworkers say Coyle is no stranger to high-risk calls. He spent decades as a key member of the Chicago Police Department’s SWAT team before retiring and relocating to Crittenden County…