KSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Hardin County

(ELIZABETHTOWN, KY.) – The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred this afternoon in Elizabethtown, KY. On Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at approximately 12:40 p.m. EDT, KSP Post 4 received information from Hardin County Control and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office pertaining to a shooting that occurred on Wise Lane in Hardin County.

Information was relayed by the original caller that Jesse Kilgus (51) of Rineyville had allegedly shot his wife Ruth Marie Kilgus (46) also of Rineyville, and was traveling to John Hardin High School to get his juvenile child.

Acting on the information provided to Kentucky State Police dispatchers, Trooper Jeff Gregory immediately notified the Hardin County Board Of Education and John Hardin High School was put on lockdown. At approximately 12:50 p.m. Mr. Kilgus arrived at John Hardin High School and attempted to gain entry. A School Resource Officer advised Mr. Kilgus, who was unknown to the Officer at that time, that entry was denied due to the lockdown. Mr. Kilgus then returned to his vehicle.

At approximately 12:53 p.m. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward arrived at John Hardin High School and immediately interacted with Jesse Kilgus while he was sitting in his van in the back parking lot of the school. While Sheriff Ward was attempting to speak to the suspect in the van other Police units from the Sheriff’s Office as well as the Radcliff Police Department and Kentucky State Police arrived.

The officers attempted through verbal communication to have Mr. Kilgus exit his van. After approximately 5 minutes of negotiating the suspect raised his handgun in a threatening manner and was shot multiple times by several officers. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene by Hardin Co Coroner Bill Lee. The investigation is ongoing by KSP CIRT Detectives.