ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A gunman who fatally shot a mother and daughter and injured another man outside a Kentucky courthouse led police on a highway pursuit before shooting himself Monday, police said.
The suspect, Christopher Elder, 46, was in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound, Elizabethtown police said.
One of the victims, 37-year-old Erica Riley of Elizabethtown, had attended a court hearing in Hardin County with Elder Monday morning before the shooting, police said. The two had been in a relationship, Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said.
Riley's mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley of Hardinsburg, was also shot and died after being transported to a hospital, police said in a media release Monday afternoon.
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 before he turned a gun on himself.
Elizabethtown is about 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) south of Louisville.
The man who was shot was also related to Riley, Thompson said. He was in stable condition, police said. His name has not been released.
Nearby schools were placed on a “soft lockdown,” after the shooting until police were able to determine it was an isolated incident, Thompson said.
Michael Cockerel told The Associated Press he was walking out of the Hardin County Justice Center Monday morning when he heard gunshots nearby. He heard a series of shots and initially thought it was a nail gun from a construction site.
But after he heard a few shots, "that’s when it clicked in my head that this might be gunshots,” Cockerel said.
Cockerel said he took cover behind a car in a nearby parking lot. When he thought the danger was over, he returned to the front of the courthouse and saw the victims across the street. He said he never saw the shooter.
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This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Janet Riley’s surname instead of Janet Rylee as previously reported by the Elizabethtown Police Department.
A mural in a parking lot is pictured near the Hardin County Justice Center, where a triple shooting occurred on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Elizabethtown, Ky. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)
DETROIT (AP) — Jacob Stallings’ RBI double in the ninth inning helped the Colorado Rockies beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Thursday afternoon.
The Tigers began the day three games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third American League wildcard spot and Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound.
With the score tied at 2, Brendan Rodgers led off the ninth with a single off Jason Foley (3-6) and took second on a passed ball. Stallings hit a flare into right field that got past Matt Vierling, allowing Stallings to take second.
Pinch-runner Nolan Jones moved to third on a groundout and Jake Cave made it 4-2 with a long sacrifice fly.
Tyler Kinley pitched the ninth inning, retiring Zach McKinstry with runners at the corners for his 12th save.
Skubal pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits. He struck out six without a walk.
The Tigers got a scare when Skubal was hit in the right (non-pitching) hand by Brenton Doyle’s line drive in the sixth inning. Skubal caught the deflection with his pitching hand, but spent several minutes with the Tigers training staff before staying in the game.
The next hitter, Ryan McMahon, hit a bouncer back to the mound. Skubal made the play without apparent difficulty, but left after the inning.
Rockies starter Ryan Feltner allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead on Jordan Beck’s third-inning homer, but Spencer Torkelson put the Tigers ahead with a two-run double in the fourth.
Rockies manager Bud Black was ejected by home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez after Torkelson’s at-bat, apparently for arguing balls and strikes. Torkelson took a pair of two-strike pitches at the edge of the zone before doubling on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
Ezequiel Tovar nearly put the Rockies ahead in the fifth, but Riley Greene made a leaping catch at the wall to take away a two-run home run.
Colorado had runners on second and third in the seventh. Brenan Hanifee struck out Beck, but Charlie Blackmon tied the game with a pinch-hit infield single off Sean Guenther.
Seth Halvorsen (1-0) picked up his first major-league win with a scoreless eighth.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Return home after a nine-game, 11-day road trip to start a three-game home series with the Chicago Cubs. RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.14) is scheduled to start for the Cubs on Friday. The Rockies have not announced their starter.
Tigers: Host the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game series. RHP Zach Elfin (10-8, 3.65) is scheduled to start Friday against the Tigers.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black, left, argues with home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado Rockies' Jordan Beck celebrates his home run against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson hits a two-run double against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung, right, celebrates scoring with Riley Greene (31) against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond (8) takes the ball from pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado Rockies pitcher Luis Peralta throws against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Sean Guenther throws against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon runs out a one-run single against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers (7) celebrates scoring against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)