This article was updated on March 23, 2024 at 5:41 p.m.
UPDATE: KENTUCKY STATE POLICE ISSUE RELEASE:
COLUMBIA, Ky. (March 23, 2024) – On the morning of March 23, 2024, Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 15 received a call from Adair County 911 Center for assistance. Adair County Sheriff’s Department requested investigative assistance regarding a shooting incident at a residence on Old Montpelier Road in Adair County.
Detectives launched an investigation into the incident and determined that Joseph South, age 57 of Columbia, was in the process of being evicted from the residence he was renting from Earl Coffey, age 86 of Columbia. Mr. South arrived at Mr. Coffey’s residence and fired several rounds from a firearm into the residence. In the process of the incident, Mr. Coffey suffered fatal injuries from apparent gunshot wounds. Four other individuals were also in the residence at the time of the incident.
Joseph South was located and detained at the scene by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Dexter Colvin arrested and charged Mr. South with Murder and 4 counts of Wanton Endangerment – 1st degree. Mr. South was lodged in the Adair County Jail.
The investigation continues and is being led by Detective Dexter Colvin. He was assisted by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County EMS, Adair County Coroner’s Office, and other KSP Troopers and Detectives.
UPDATE: Joseph South, 57, has been lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail on charges of Murder and Wanton Endangerment, 1st Degree. An official report from Kentucky State Police has not yet been issued.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A shooting around the 1000 block of Old Montpelier Road claimed the life of a man early Saturday morning.
Around 7:30 a.m. the Adair County 911 center received a report of a possible shooting on Old Montpelier Road. Sheriff Josh Brockman along with deputies and officers from the Columbia Police Department responded to the scene and located a man with a rifle beside an outbuilding. The suspect was directly across the road from the home where the victim was shot and needing medical assistance.
Adair County EMS could not respond directly to the scene due to it being unsafe, so Sheriff Josh Brockman and Deputy Chandler Staten drove past the armed man and went to the back of the residence to place the victim in the back seat to drive him to EMS, who was staged safely down the road. Deputy Chris Tweedy and Columbia Police Officer Trevor Foster provided cover for Brockman and Staten.
Upon returning back to the scene, members of Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia Police Department and Kentucky State Police began to approach the suspect. He was refusing to surrender and comply with verbal commands. He was taken under control by a taser that was deployed by the sheriff’s office and taken into custody.
The victim was later pronounced deceased at TJ Health Columbia.
The suspect and the investigation were turned over to Kentucky State Police by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. Kentucky State Police has stated they will release the names along with additional information at a later time.
Law enforcement has not yet released names, but reliable sources have told the Community Voice that Joseph South has been arrested.
