KY sheriff’s deputies shot while serving warrant are stable. Suspect dead
Two Boone County deputies were shot while serving an arrest warrant in Northern Kentucky Thursday night.
Both are stable, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, and the man who shot them was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Walton apartment.
The county coroner identified the suspect as 39-year-old Justin Chapman Friday afternoon who was being served a felony arrest warrant for flagrant non-support, child support. An investigation is ongoing. The names of the two deputies shot have not been released.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said in a Friday news release deputies arrived at a home on Service Road in Walton, about 30 minutes south of Cincinnati, just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday to serve a felony arrest warrant for a wanted man.
Just after 10 p.m. once deputies confirmed the suspect was inside, they breached the door and prepared to enter.
As they entered, the sheriff’s office said the suspect fired multiple rounds, and the deputies sustained multiple gunshot wounds before being evacuated from the scene. They were taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where they are in stable condition.
According to WLWT, one deputy was shot in the chest and the other was shot in the leg.
The SWAT Team, along with the sheriff’s office’s negotiators and other Northern Kentucky law enforcement were called to the scene after the suspect barricaded himself inside the home following the shooting.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect did not cooperate with negotiators despite their repeated attempts to establish a line of communication.
While the man was barricaded, Major Phillip Ridgell with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said at the scene, “This is the worst nightmare type of situation,” according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Once the house and the surrounding area were secure, the SWAT Team deployed gas canisters inside. When the suspect did not respond, a drone was authorized to enter the house around midnight, where it found the suspect unresponsive in a second-floor bedroom.
The SWAT Team entered, assessed the suspect and determined he was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff’s office said. A firearm was recovered next to the suspect, the sheriff’s office said at the scene.
In a Friday morning social media post, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he and his wife, Britainy, were praying for the sheriff'’ deputies. He thanked regional law enforcement and first responders for their work in the post.
The Kentucky House Majority Caucus said Friday morning it offered its “heartfelt concern and deepest gratitude” to the two deputies who were shot.
“These brave officers answer the call to serve and protect every day, knowingly placing themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of our communities,” their statement said. “Their courage and selflessness reflect the very best of Kentucky law enforcement, and we remain steadfast in our respect and admiration of the commitment they demonstrate each and every day.”
Reps. Kim Banta, Steve Doan, Mark Hart, Savannah Maddox, Marianne Proctor, TJ Roberts and Sens. Steve Rawlings and Gex Williams signed the statement.
This story was updated to name the suspect and include more details about the warrant being served at his residence. It may be updated again.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 11:55 AM.
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