Tennessee man accused of killing KSP trooper was wanted at time of shooting, court records show

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Tennessee man accused of killing a Kentucky State Police Trooper in Warren County was wanted in Tennessee on probation violations at the time of the shooting, according to court records and the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office.

According to WNKY News 40 partner NewsChannel5, 51-year-old Emonnie Branch, of Portland, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to securities fraud, attempted domestic assault, and violating a no-contact order in 2025.

The Sumner County District Attorney’s Office provided documents to NC5 that Branch’s securities fraud conviction resulted in a five-year sentence that was suspended to supervised probation. Branch was ordered to pay restitution to an out-of-state victim.

Branch allegedly violated terms of his probation while under Tennessee Department of Corrections supervision, according to NC5.

A probation violation in March accused Branch of testing positive for marijuana during a drug screen and court filings accused him of failing to pay restitution. A drug test allegedly came back positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Sumner County prosecutors confirmed to NC5 that Branch was wanted at the time he allegedly shot and killed KSP Trooper Hayden Phillips.

Branch was arrested on Monday evening after a several-hour pursuit from Warren County to Jefferson County, where Louisville Metro Police arrested him on Dixie Highway near Burwell Avenue.

Branch appeared in court in Warren County Tuesday morning, where he was arraigned. Judge Kim Geoghegan denied bond.

Branch will appear for a preliminary hearing Friday at 8:45 a.m.