An off-duty Florence police officer died late Friday night after being shot by four Boone County Sheriff's Office deputies during a domestic violence call in Florence, Kentucky, according to the Kentucky State Police.
Deputies responded around 9 p. m.
to a domestic violence situation involving gunfire at a cul-de-sac in the 8600 block of Lely Court, off Thunder Ridge Drive.
Upon arrival, authorities encountered 37-year-old Dustin Zink, an off-duty Florence K9 officer, who was armed and threatening to harm himself and others.
Investigators reported that deputies attempted to negotiate with Zink before he fired his weapon multiple times, prompting four deputies to return fire.
Local resident Rey Reyna and his family hid inside their garage during the gunfire, which disrupted a neighborhood gathering.
His doorbell camera captured portions of the incident as dozens of families sought shelter.
"So, we were just sitting here, getting ready to light up some fireworks.
My kids came out, my wife came out of the house, and they were wondering who was shooting gunshots," said Reyna.
The responding deputies immediately administered medical assistance to Zink until emergency services arrived.
Zink was transported to St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before midnight.
Neighbors later observed a vehicle in the driveway damaged by gunfire, alongside Zink's assigned police vehicle.
Another neighbor noted that Zink had recently discussed his upcoming days off without indicating any underlying issues.
"I asked him if he was off.
He said he was 'til Wednesday, and they were going swimming Friday, so it didn't seem like nothing wrong then," said Jerry Casebolt, a neighbor.
The incident left community members shocked. Reyna expressed his condolences regarding the impact on the officer's relatives.
"You know, they would message to see if my daughter would go and play with his little girl.
It's devastating. I feel bad for the family and the kids.
It's tragic," said Reyna.
Zink had served with the Florence Police Department since completing basic training in 2017, later working alongside his K9 partner, Atos.
A local training facility, Doggie Paddles, acknowledged his regular participation in community and training events.
"He participated in several of our annual Doggie Paddles Golf Tournaments over the last several years, and we will miss seeing him at our facility when conducting training sessions with his K9 and other officers.
Thank you for your years of service protecting the local community! You will be missed," wrote Doggie Paddles.
The Boone County Sheriff's Office confirmed that no deputies or other department personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Following the incident, the Florence Police Department issued a formal statement regarding the loss of the officer.
"He dedicated his career to protecting our community with honor, integrity, and compassion, leaving a lasting impact on the fellow officers and the citizens he served.
While we cannot comment on the circumstances of this investigation, we believe one moment does not define a person," stated the Florence Police Department.
The Kentucky State Police is managing the ongoing investigation, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the region.
