In what began as a response to a domestic disturbance, a confrontation with law enforcement ended in the shooting death of a Madison County man. Kenneth 'Kenny' Bruce Huntzinger, a 51-year-old white male, died on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. His death came more than a week after he was shot by a Kentucky State Police sergeant.
The incident unfolded on February 7, 2017, when Sergeant Toby Coyle, a 16-year veteran of the state
police, responded to a domestic dispute. Upon his arrival, a confrontation ensued with Huntzinger. According to police reports, Sgt. Coyle instructed Huntzinger, who was inside his truck, to exit the vehicle. During the encounter, Huntzinger reportedly rammed another vehicle in the driveway.
As the situation escalated, police say Huntzinger accelerated his truck and drove it in the direction of Sgt. Coyle. In response, the officer fired his weapon, striking Huntzinger. While Huntzinger was not armed with a traditional weapon, authorities stated that he was using his vehicle as a weapon. Sgt. Coyle was not injured during the incident.
Following the shooting, Huntzinger was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He remained there for over a week before ultimately succumbing to his wounds. In the aftermath of the incident, Sgt. Coyle was placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. A special unit within the Kentucky State Police was assigned to investigate the shooting.
