LEXINGTON, Ky. — An Adair County man killed three people Monday before being shot by police, according to reporting by LEX 18 News. Court records revealed the suspect's mother had filed four emergency protective orders against him over nearly a decade.

Ryan Sneed, 38, fatally shot his mother Joyce Sneed, 67; his aunt Debra Clark, 63; and Michael Curry, 37, before Kentucky State Police killed him following a barricade situation. Joyce Sneed had filed protective orders against her son between 2018 and March 2026, with the most recent domestic violence order set to remain in effect until 2029.

Diane Fleet, associate director of GreenHouse 17, a local domestic violence advocacy organization, noted that parents filing protective orders against adult children is uncommon. "Usually, this happens when the child is dealing with drug abuse, mental health issues, or taking advantage of an aging parent," Fleet said.

Court records show Sneed had prior domestic violence charges dating back to 2005, including assault and wanton endangerment. An emergency protective order filed in March 2015 was violated the following month.

Fleet explained that protective orders serve as tools for survivors to establish safety boundaries or plan exits from dangerous situations. "If I see a person has filed four protective orders, I want to look really specifically on what's going on in that home, and how that person is abusing," Fleet said, noting the likelihood of intimidation and coercion.

Domestic violence can manifest through various forms of control beyond physical abuse, Fleet added, including financial manipulation, shaming, and exploitation of faith. She encouraged family members and friends to check in with loved ones showing concerning behavioral changes without assuming they know the full situation.

"If you have relationships with a family and you see behavior changes, check in with family in a safe way so people can start to divulge that something's not okay in my home," Fleet said.

Anyone experiencing domestic violence can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for confidential support and resources.