Deputy Rick Coyle Dies After Line-of-Duty Shooting, FBI Director Kash Patel Offers Condolences

Deputy Rick Coyle of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office died on April 30, 2026, after battling for 28 days following a shooting that occurred while he was serving emergency guardianship paperwork. The 58-year-old officer was shot in the head on April 2 by 60-year-old Ronnie Phillips in Sturgis, Kentucky. Deputies returned fire, killing Phillips at the scene, and a female victim inside the home was safely rescued.

Coyle was airlifted to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, where he remained on life support until his passing at home surrounded by family. His death was announced by the sheriff’s office, which praised Coyle’s 30 years of law enforcement service, including 28 years with the Chicago Police Department and two years with the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office as a school resource officer.

The department expressed gratitude for community support during this difficult time and requested privacy for Coyle’s family. Funeral arrangements will include full line-of-duty honors and benefits, though details have yet to be released.

FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to honor Deputy Coyle, offering prayers and condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. “The FBI sends our prayers and condolences to Deputy Coyle’s family, friends, and colleagues left behind. They will have our full support,” Patel wrote.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also acknowledged the sacrifice, stating, “Deputy Coyle sacrificed everything protecting our commonwealth, and we are forever grateful to him.” The Kentucky State Police, who investigated the shooting, continue their review as part of standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Deputy Coyle’s death adds to a grim pattern of line-of-duty fatalities in Kentucky, following the 2024 shooting death of Russell County Deputy Joshua Phipps. Colleagues remember Coyle as a steady, reliable officer who brought big-city experience to a rural department.

This tragic incident underscores the persistent dangers law enforcement officers face and the urgent need for accountability and support for those who risk their lives in service.