Kentucky State Police said four deputies fired after Dustin Zink discharged a weapon during negotiations.
FLORENCE, KY — An off-duty Florence police officer was shot and killed Friday night after Boone County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence call at a home in northern Kentucky, state police said.
Dustin Zink, 37, died after a confrontation with deputies in the 8600 block of Lely Court, where authorities said they found him armed and threatening to harm himself and others. Kentucky State Police said the case remains under active investigation by its Critical Incident Response Team, which reviews officer-involved shootings in the state.
The call came in around 9 p.m. Friday as a domestic violence complaint that included reports of shots fired. Boone County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home and encountered Zink, who worked for the Florence Police Department. State police said deputies tried to communicate with him and negotiate an end to the standoff. Those efforts did not succeed. During the negotiations, state police said, Zink fired his weapon multiple times. Four Boone County deputies then fired their agency-issued weapons, striking him. Deputies gave first aid at the scene until emergency medical crews arrived. Zink was taken to St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
No Boone County sheriff’s deputy was injured, and authorities have not reported injuries to anyone else from the sheriff’s office. The names of the four deputies have not been released. Officials also have not released the full 911 call, body-camera footage, dispatch audio or a detailed timeline showing how long deputies were at the home before the fatal gunfire. Investigators have not said how many shots were fired by Zink or by deputies, what type of weapon Zink had, or who else was at the scene when deputies arrived. Kentucky State Police said Zink was displaying a weapon and threatening self-harm and harm to others. The agency has not released more details about the domestic violence complaint that brought deputies to the home.
Zink joined the Florence Police Department in 2017 and had worked as a K-9 handler. The department said it was mourning his death but could not comment on the facts of the investigation. In a statement, the department said Zink’s service reached beyond his uniform and said “one moment does not define a person.” Friends described Zink as a longtime local officer, a father and a former professional indoor football player. Kyle Hogan, a former coach and close friend, said he had known Zink for nearly 20 years. “I’ve never seen that side of him,” Hogan said. He said Zink loved his family, his children, his teammates and his friends.
The four Boone County deputies involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, a standard step after a law enforcement shooting. Kentucky State Police is leading the investigation, not the Boone County Sheriff’s Office or Florence police, because the case involves officers using deadly force. The review is expected to include interviews, physical evidence from the scene and any available video or audio records. Once the investigative file is complete, it may be forwarded to prosecutors for review. Authorities had not announced charges or a scheduled public briefing as of Tuesday.
The shooting left two local law enforcement agencies tied to the same scene in different ways. Zink served in Florence, while the deputies who fired worked for Boone County. The location on Lely Court is in a residential area of Florence, a northern Kentucky city near Cincinnati. Outside the home, a vehicle remained in the driveway with several apparent bullet holes after the shooting. Hogan said he had spoken with Zink less than a week before the incident and did not notice anything unusual. “It didn’t seem like there was anything that was wrong,” Hogan said. “He was the same person every time I talked with him.”
The investigation remained open Tuesday, July 7. State police had not released additional findings, the deputies’ names or a final account of the shooting. The next major step is the completion of the Kentucky State Police review and any decision by prosecutors after they receive the case file.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, July 7, 2026.