(WKYT) – Kentucky State Police have identified the man they say shot three people at different locations in Adair County.
Troopers say 39-year-old Ryan Sneed is responsible for the shootings. The victims have been identified as his mother, 67-year-old Joyce Sneed, his aunt, 63-year-old Debra Clark, and 37-year-old Michael Curry.
RELATED:
- Shooter killed by KSP identified after barricade incident in Adair County
- Adair County deputy nearly shot by man who allegedly killed three others
Court records show Joyce Sneed sought protection dating back to 2018
Online court records show Joyce Sneed made multiple efforts to protect herself from her son Ryan Sneed.
She had filed multiple protective orders against Ryan dating back to 2018. The most recent one was put in place last month and was meant to keep Ryan away from his mother until 2029.
Understanding domestic violence beyond intimate partners
Diane Fleet is the associate director at Greenhouse17, a domestic violence organization that primarily focuses on intimate partner violence. She said cases like this one are a critical reminder of who can be a victim.
“What we really define domestic violence as is power and control,” Fleet said. “And the reason we do that — and not so much the physical violence — is because when you look at when a person is losing control, that’s when they escalate.”
Court records show Joyce Sneed filed for a long-term protective order against her son less than two months before Monday’s shooting. Fleet said that moment — when a victim tries to create distance — can be the most dangerous.
“The severe violence, the lethality, the murder-suicides that we sometimes see — that person feels that they have lost complete control,” Fleet said.
Safety planning and warning signs
Fleet said one of the clearest warning signs is a change in your own behavior — not just the abuser’s.
“How does a mother untether a little bit from her son? We talk a lot about safety planning. And anybody can do a safety plan — it’s really great to call an expert or a nonprofit in the community,” Fleet said.
She said victims should consider temporary distance as a test. “Maybe I just need to not be in my house for a few days. Let’s just see how they respond. But wrap a lot of people around you in that case,” Fleet said.
Fleet said supporting neighbors when they come to you with domestic violence concerns can be life saving.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.