On Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 4:22 p.m., Clinton County 911 Dispatch received a call from 205 Burkesville Rd., also known as Albany Smoke & Tobacco Outlet.
According to a news release by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, the caller stated that her husband had a .38 pistol and .22 rifle and “has been holding her against her will (and) he also threatened to shoot her, himself, and any law enforcement officers that arrived on the scene.”
When Albany Police Chief Mark Bell arrived on the scene, he encountered Laura Branham of 118 Cummings Rd., Burkesville, Kentucky. Laura Branham stated that her husband, later identified as Quentin Branham, also of Burkesville, had held her against her will at their residence.
Quentin Branham had allegedly forced her into the vehicle, stating they were going to take a drive to an unknown location, and he would allegedly kill Laura and them himself.
Laura Branham was able to convince Quentin to stop at the smoke shop to get cigarettes. While inside she asked employees to dial 911 stating that her “husband had a gun and was trying to kill her.”
When Chief Bell arrived he was able to protect Laura Branham and to give further information to dispatch to relay to the other responding officers.
Quentin Branham, who was driving a maroon Ford Escape, noticed the presence of Chief Bell and sped off, traveling west on Hwy. 1590.
Deputy Thomas Pendergrass staged at the 1590 and Hwy. 90 intersection and soon made contact with the maroon Ford Escape.
Deputy Pendergrass initiated his emergency equipment and (the) two vehicles went across 90 onto 1590, then turning onto Willis Creek Road,
Deputy Pendergrass notated that the driver was driving erratically, going off the right side of the road, back across the roadway, and then ending in a field located at the residence of Russell Smith on Willis Creek Road.
Deputy Pendergrass staged his cruiser at gunpoint on the vehicle due to the nature of the complaint. Soon after, Officer Kenneth Johnson and Sheriff Ricky Marcum arrived on scene.
A brief stand-off occurred until it was determined that Quentin Branham had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Clinton County EMS and Clinton County Coroner Lonnie Scott were then notified and the scene was cleared at 7:49 p.m.
The investigation is closed pending the coroner’s report.