A Laurel County man suffered a gunshot wound Sunday morning near the Hwy. 312 boat ramp in Corbin, and police are still trying to ascertain exactly what led to the shooting.
The incident was reported about 10:45 a.m. According to Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Bowling, dispatch centers in Laurel County, Corbin and Whitley County were notified that a man was lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound.
Bowling said he responded just after Corbin Police found the man lying in the highway with a gunshot wound to his right forearm. Corbin officers Steve Meadors and Jeff Hill were the first to arrive on the scene. The man, who’s identity has not been released, was parked in a popular spot near the roadway. People often walk down from there to swim or fish in the lake.
"He first gave the impression that he had walked up to his vehicle and somebody was messing around in it, trying to break in or something. He said he got up there and got in a confrontation and the guy shot him in the right arm," Bowling said.
Bowling said a clear blood trail actually started near the woodline and veered into the roadway.
"Who knows what happened," Bowling said. "He wasn’t giving much information beyond that. The incident he’s reporting doesn’t correlate with what evidence is laying there."
Ambulance personnel arrived quickly and stopped the man’s bleeding. He was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center for treatment. Authorities do not believe the wound to be life-threatening.
Corbin Police, Whitley and Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies, along with Kentucky State Police all responded to the scene. KSP is investigating the case.
Authorities did a ground search of the area but were unable to find the weapon involved in the shooting. The man told police the shooter fled shortly after the incident.
"Everybody up there cleared out when the police arrived," Bowling said. "It was a good Samaritan that was going into town on 312 that found him in the road and offered assistance."
Officials with Kentucky State Police Post 11 confirmed they are investigating the shooting but would not provide further information. Det. Mark Allen is leading the investigation.
Check back often to thenewsjournal.net/ for more information as it become available.
