Former Laurel County deputy suspected of killing mother before taking his own life on I-75

WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Berea Police say a former Laurel County sheriff’s deputy is suspected of killing his mother early Sunday morning, then later taking his own life during a traffic stop on Interstate 75.

Investigators say 51-year-old Kevin Berry, a former deputy with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, is believed to have fatally shot his 77-year-old mother, Margie Berry, at her home on Leslie Drive in Berea.

Authorities were called around 12:30 a.m. for a welfare check after a caller reported she was on the phone with Margie when she suddenly stopped responding after a loud noise. When officers arrived, they found the door open and discovered Margie Berry had died from a gunshot wound.

Kevin Berry was quickly identified as a suspect. When attempts to ping his cellphone were unsuccessful, surrounding agencies were alerted to be on the lookout for Berry’s red Chevy Sonic.

Williamsburg Assistant Police Chief Brandon White said he went to Exit 11 on I-75 in Whitley County, spotted a vehicle matching the description and plate, and began following it. After the vehicle was stopped, officers attempted to contact Berry but got no response.

White then deployed a drone to look through the windshield and found Berry inside the vehicle. Officers later discovered he had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

I-75 was shut down in both directions in Whitley County for nearly an hour-and-a-half until officials determined there was not threat to the public.

In a statement on Facebook, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office wrote in part that Sheriff John Root and staff “wish to express their deepest condolences to all of the victims associated with the incidents involving former Deputy Kevin Berry.”

This investigation remains ongoing. We’ll continue to update this story as new information becomes available.