SOMERSET, KY (May 19, 2020) - According to Sheriff Greg Speck, on May 18, 2020 at 8:58 AM, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Puncheon Creek Road in Pulaski County to investigate a gunshot wound. When Deputies arrived, they learned that a 68-year-old man had been shot and that the person who shot him lived on Smith Ridge Spur Road. The victim was taken to the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and later transferred to the University of Kentucky Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
At 9:33 AM, Deputies arrived at the suspect’s residence on Smith Ridge Spur Road and established a perimeter at a mobile home where the suspect resided. Deputies immediately attempted to contact the suspect with the loudspeaker on their Sheriff’s vehicles, but the suspect would not respond to their requests to come out.
While the Deputies were at the perimeter, the suspect fired several shots while he was concealed inside the mobile home. This weapon appeared to be a small-caliber gun.
At 11:15 AM, the suspect shot at and hit the passenger side window of Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Deputy, Sergeant Cary York’s vehicle shattering the window. Luckily, Sergeant York had exited the vehicle and was standing outside nearby but was not struck. During this time, the Sheriff, using another vehicle as cover, returned fire toward the suspect who was concealed inside the trailer with the gun barrel, pointed out the door toward the Sheriff. Before this shooting, the suspect had been firing a smaller caliber weapon, but this weapon was a larger caliber weapon believed to be a high-powered rifle.
Throughout the day, the Sheriff’s Office using loudspeakers on their vehicles attempted to get the suspect to surrender, but he would not. Deputies even allowed the suspect’s family members to try to talk the suspect into coming out peacefully, but he would not respond to them either.
At 1:52 PM, the suspect fired a shot out the back door in the direction of Sergeant Cary York. Sergeant York returned fire at the suspect.
This standoff continued throughout the day for 8½ hours, with the suspect shooting multiple rounds at random intervals out of the mobile home at members of the Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police Troopers.
The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office also used tear gas as a less-lethal means to try to get him to come out; however, the gas had seemed not to affect him.
At 3:46 PM Sheriff Speck turned over the scene to the Kentucky State Police’s Special Response Team to try to get the suspect to surrender. The Special Response Team has an armored vehicle that would make it safer to approach the mobile home. During their attempts, the suspect brandished a firearm, and he was shot and wounded by the Special Response Team.
Shortly after that, the suspect was removed from the residence by the Special Response Team. An ambulance from the Somerset/Pulaski County EMS, who had been stationed nearby since the incident started that morning, was summoned to come to the scene to treat the suspect. He was transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and later transferred to the University of Kentucky Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He remains at the UK Hospital.
Felony warrants have been obtained for the suspect but could not be served on him, due to his medical condition.
The initial shooting, where the 68-year-old man was shot by the suspect, is being investigated by the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff’s Office will present this case to prosecutors for additional warrants.
The shooting investigation involving the Sheriff’s Office and the Special Response Team is being investigated by the State Police Post in London, KY.
A search warrant was obtained and executed on the residence. Located during the search of the mobile home was a .270 large caliber rifle with scope, a .22 caliber rifle and a .380 handgun. Several spent shell cases were located inside the residence as well as live rounds. The Sheriff’s Office collected these as evidence.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by KSP Personnel, Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, Eubank Police Department, the Somerset Police Department, the Somerset/Pulaski EMS, the Eubank Fire Department, and Pulaski County Animal Control.
