ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — One person was fatally shot and two others were injured by a gunman outside a Kentucky courthouse, and police said the suspect had been located and was negotiating with police Monday afternoon.
The victim and the suspect, 46-year-old Christopher Elder, had attended a court hearing in Hardin County Monday morning before the shooting, Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said at a media briefing. The two had been in a relationship, Thompson said.
The shooting occurred in a parking lot and Elder fled the scene afterward, Thompson said.
Elder’s vehicle was located on a highway by police in western Kentucky and he was pursued and stopped, Thompson said. The chief said police negotiators were speaking with Elder, who was still inside his car at the time of the briefing around noon EST.
Elizabethtown is about 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) south of Louisville.
Thompson said two women and one man were shot. The two other victims were family members of the deceased, who had not been identified. The surviving shooting victims were hospitalized, he said.
Nearby schools were placed on a “soft lockdown,” after the shooting until police were able to determine it was an isolated incident, Thompson said.
One person has been reported dead and two others injured in a shooting that took place outside a courthouse in Hazard, Kentucky. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the community and sparking a standoff between the suspect and law enforcement.
According to officials, the shooting took place outside the Perry County Courthouse, where a man opened fire on a group of people before fleeing the scene. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries. The identities of the victims have not been released at this time.
The suspect, who has not been identified, is currently in a standoff with police at a nearby residence. Law enforcement officials have surrounded the area and are attempting to negotiate with the suspect to peacefully surrender. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and authorities are working to piece together what led to this tragic incident.
The shooting has left the community of Hazard shaken and on edge. Residents are urged to stay indoors and avoid the area surrounding the courthouse as the standoff continues. The courthouse has been closed for the remainder of the day as police work to resolve the situation.
This shooting serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in America. Incidents like these highlight the need for stricter gun control measures and increased mental health resources to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.
As the standoff continues, our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We hope for a peaceful resolution to this situation and justice for those affected by this senseless act of violence.
