UPDATE – 3:45 p.m.
The following is a press release sent by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office:
On this date, deputies responded to a 911 call at 7941 Highway 405 at 07:40 am, a call Initiated by the home owner, Kenneth H. Collins. Mr. Collins indicated to dispatchers that his neighbor, Charlie Jean, had just kicked in his garage door and gained entry into the house.
Mr. Collins heard the crashing of the door and went to Investigate, where he encountered Charles Jean. (As a note, Charles Jean lives next door with his father, also Charles Jean, and Mr. Collins and Charles Jean SR. are friends)
Mr. Collins recognized the burglar, and was able to convince him to leave.
A short time later, Charles Jean again entered the garage; this time armed with an AR-15 and was encountered by the homeowner, who had also armed him-self with his 9mm handgun. Mr. Collins states that when he encountered Jean, he was waving around the long weapon, and Mr. Collins feared that Mr. Jean was going to shoot him. He states that in a self defense mode, he fired two rounds at the burglar and hit him with both shots.
Also present and witnessing the events as told in above paragraph was Mr. Collins son.
When Deputies arrived on scene, they observed Charles Jean lying in the side yard of Mr. Collins residence, with what appeared to be two gunshot wounds in his upper torso. Lying on the ground a distance from Jean deputies located a Smith & Wesson AR-15 with a full clip, and one round chambered. As they entered the garage area, deputies observed shoe marks on the outer garage door, Indicating that it had been kicked. Located inside, and on the garage floor, deputies observed parts of the door sill, as well as a strike plate that had been displaced by the force of the kick.
Deputies also observed on a small black refrigerator in the garage a 9mm handgun. Mr. Collins indicated to the responding deputies that this weapon was his property, and that is the weapon that he used to shoot the burglar.
The alleged perpetrator was transported to the Owensboro Health by Yellow Ambulance Service, where he underwent surgery to remove the projectiles and treat his wounds.
At this time Mr. Collins Is not facing criminal charges based upon the circumstances surrounding this incident.
DCSO anticipates charges on Charles Jean to be filed pending release from the hospital.
Mr. Jean is facing charges that include Burglary in the first degree, a class B felony with the potential of 10-20 years in prison.
UPDATE – 2:15 p.m.
The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed details of the early morning shooting on the county’s east side.
According to Chief Deputy Barry Smith, the perpetrator forced his way into his neighbor’s home in the 7900 block of Highway 405 through the side door of the garage. The homeowner heard the perpetrator kick in the door and opened the service door between the home and garage, where he found the perpetrator inside of the garage.
Smith said the homeowner was able to get the perpetrator to leave the residence, but he returned soon after with an AR-15 rifle. It was at this time that the homeowner shot the perpetrator in the garage.
The perpetrator is still in surgery at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. His condition is unknown at this point.
“We are still investigating from all avenues to make sure the incident happened as the homeowner stated,” Smith said. “We are also still investigating as to what charges to charge the perpetrator.”
The Daviess County Sherriff’s Office responded to a shooting in the 7900 block of Highway 405 at approximately 7:40 a.m. According to Chief Deputy Barry Smith, a homeowner shot a neighbor who he said broke into his house.
The person shot was taken to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital with one gunshot wound to the chest. Smith said the person was breathing when taken from the scene.
Owensboro Times will continue to follow this story as it develops.
