ELIZABETHTOWN, KY - A Kentucky man, Christopher Elder, 46, opened fire outside the Hardin County Courthouse striking three people and killing two of them in Monday's early hours. Elder fled the scene, leading police on a pursuit to western Kentucky before officers cornered him and a standoff began.
After approximately ninety minutes Elder turned his rifle on officers and eventually on himself, shooting himself in the head. At the time of this writing, Elder is hospitalized in critical condition at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee.
As reported by WDRB, Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson told reporters that officers used Flock cameras to track Elder through western Kentucky. This, after the attack at the courthouse which left a woman he was dating, Erica Riley, 37, dead, and her mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley, mortally wounded. She would later die at a nearby hospital.
An unnamed man was also struck in the shooting and is hospitalized in stable condition the outlet said.
The Kentucky State Police issued a shelter-in-place order when the shooting occurred, advising citizens to stay away from the Hardin County Justice Center.
The Hopkinsville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff's Office, Muhlenberg County Sheriff's Office, Elizabethtown Police, and Kentucky State Police joined the pursuit after Elder fled the courthouse until he turned into a church parking lot.
According to a press release posted to Facebook from the Hopkinsville Police Department, "[T]he subject then fled into a church parking lot pointing the rifle at himself and at officers. Christian County Sheriff's Office and HPD negotiators were speaking with the subject for approximately 90 minutes before the subject attempted to take his own life. The subject sustained a gunshot wound to his head and was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee."
The department added that Kentucky State Police Post 2 will handle the investigation moving forward.
In a post to X, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote, "Elizabethtown police have confirmed a shooting near the Hardin County Justice Center. Those in the area should follow guidance from law enforcement. Please join Britainy and me in praying for everyone affected by this senseless act of violence." He later added, "Our thoughts are with Elizabethtown in the wake of an act of violence that took two lives and has left one hospitalized. Join Britainy and me in lifting the entire Hardin County community in prayer and giving thanks to our brave first responders."
After approximately ninety minutes Elder turned his rifle on officers and eventually on himself, shooting himself in the head. At the time of this writing, Elder is hospitalized in critical condition at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee.
As reported by WDRB, Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson told reporters that officers used Flock cameras to track Elder through western Kentucky. This, after the attack at the courthouse which left a woman he was dating, Erica Riley, 37, dead, and her mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley, mortally wounded. She would later die at a nearby hospital.
An unnamed man was also struck in the shooting and is hospitalized in stable condition the outlet said.
Here's a look at the scene where 3 people were shot outside the Hardin County Court House in Elizabethtown Monday morning: https://t.co/C7AZkn1Z6V pic.twitter.com/G8ZM9iQP25
— WLKY (@WLKY) August 19, 2024
The Kentucky State Police issued a shelter-in-place order when the shooting occurred, advising citizens to stay away from the Hardin County Justice Center.
Chief Thompson told reporters with LEX 18 that the shooting was related to a "domestic-related incident," and confirmed earlier reports that Elder was dating Erica Riley.KSP is assisting Elizabethtown local law enforcement with an active shooter incident in the proximity of the Hardin County Justice Center. Citizens in the area are encouraged to shelter in place.
— KY State Police (@kystatepolice) August 19, 2024
The Hopkinsville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff's Office, Muhlenberg County Sheriff's Office, Elizabethtown Police, and Kentucky State Police joined the pursuit after Elder fled the courthouse until he turned into a church parking lot.
According to a press release posted to Facebook from the Hopkinsville Police Department, "[T]he subject then fled into a church parking lot pointing the rifle at himself and at officers. Christian County Sheriff's Office and HPD negotiators were speaking with the subject for approximately 90 minutes before the subject attempted to take his own life. The subject sustained a gunshot wound to his head and was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee."
The department added that Kentucky State Police Post 2 will handle the investigation moving forward.
In a post to X, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote, "Elizabethtown police have confirmed a shooting near the Hardin County Justice Center. Those in the area should follow guidance from law enforcement. Please join Britainy and me in praying for everyone affected by this senseless act of violence." He later added, "Our thoughts are with Elizabethtown in the wake of an act of violence that took two lives and has left one hospitalized. Join Britainy and me in lifting the entire Hardin County community in prayer and giving thanks to our brave first responders."
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