Floyd man dies in trooper-involved shooting

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PRESTONSBURG — The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is investigating a trooper-involved shooting Saturday in Floyd County that left a Harold man dead.

Floyd County Deputy Coroner Chuck Hall identified the victim as Glenn Edward Bays, 35, of Harold.

The KSP Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. A release issued by the KSP said the preliminary investigation indicates that a KSP trooper was attempting to locate a vehicle as part of a domestic violence incident investigation.

Upon locating a vehicle matching the description, the trooper conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the trooper was placed in a “life-threatening situation” by the vehicle operator, later identified as Bays, and discharged an agency-issued firearm, striking Bays, the release said.

Bays was pronounced dead at the scene by the Floyd County coroner.

“KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the Commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation,” the release said. “To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.”

Bays, who was a custodian for the Floyd County Board of Education, is survived by his wife, Vanessa Sloan Bays; mother, Patricia Shepherd Bays; stepfather, Glenn Johnson; a son, Isaiah Bays; a daughter, Ellianna Bays; three brothers, Steven Bays, Clayton Johnson and Jacob Johnson; and five sisters, Christina DeRossett, Priscella Amburgey, Sheena Patton, Teresa Johnson and Melissa Murphy.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 9 at noon at the Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home in Martin, with burial in the family cemetery in Harold.