COLUMBIA, Ky. (April 21, 2026) – In the morning hours of April 20, 2026, Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 15 received a report of a shooting incident that led Troopers to discover three individuals deceased at three separate residences.
KSP Post 15 received a call from the Adair County 911 Center requesting Troopers to respond with the Adair County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) to a reported shooting incident at a residence on Chestnut Grove Road in Adair County. Troopers were told by the 911 Center that an individual had reported that his brother, identified as 37-year-old Michael Adam Curry, had been shot at the residence. Upon law enforcement’s arrival, an ACSO Deputy began receiving multiple rounds of gunfire coming from the residence. The Deputy sought cover near her cruiser until she could be safely extracted from the area in front of the residence. The shooter, 38-year-old Ryan Sneed, of Columbia, barricaded himself inside the residence. The KSP Special Response Team responded to the residence to assist Post 15 Troopers until Mr. Sneed could be secured.
During the lengthy barricade, KSP learned that Mr. Sneed had made threats to kill his family and began attempts to check on the welfare of his family members. Detectives went to a residence on Lakeview Drive in Adair County to attempt to contact Mr. Sneed’s 67-year-old mother, Joyce Sneed, who was located deceased in the residence. Detectives also went to a residence on Henson Road in Adair County to attempt to contact Mr. Sneed's 63-year-old aunt, Debra Clark, who was also found deceased in that residence. The Adair County Coroner pronounced both individuals deceased at each residence. Thankfully, all other family members were located and found to be safe throughout the day.
More information detailing the resolution of the barricade situation can be found in a separate news release. Once the barricade was concluded, KSP entered the residence to continue the investigation of the shooting incident and located Michael Adam Curry deceased inside. The Adair County Coroner pronounced Mr. Curry deceased at the scene.
The investigations of the murders of Joyce Sneed, Debra Clark, and Michael Adam Curry continue and are being led by Post 15 Detective Josh Dicken. KSP was assisted by numerous law enforcement and emergency services personnel, both from Adair County and surrounding counties.
