The homicide of 15-year-old Corban Henry marked the 24th case of gun-related activity investigated by the Owensboro Police Department this year — up from 13 gun-related crimes at this point in 2019. OPD officials said it was difficult to pinpoint one cause for the increase, but that drug and gang activity likely played a role in at least some of the cases.
The 24 firearm-related crimes include three homicides, nine shooting injuries and 12 reports of firearm discharges wherein bullets hit buildings or vehicles.
While some of these cases could be related, Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said there was also some variation that made it difficult to determine a pattern for the shooting incidents.
“The shootings are spread out, though there’s slightly more in northern Owensboro,” he said. “However, they aren’t isolated to one area.”
Shooting incidents occurred downtown between 4th and 9th streets, as well as on East Parrish Avenue, Towne Square Court, and Triplett Street.
Boggess said it was difficult to determine whether most of the incidents were caused by increased drug and gang activity because several of the firearm discharge investigations have left OPD detectives without a suspect or motive.
“Without a suspect or motive, we don’t really know,” Boggess said. “[Drug and gang activity] could be the case for some of them, absolutely. But with so many of these cases isolated, it could be that this is just a bad year.”
Though 2020 is revealing an uptick in gun activity thus far, Boggess said it’s too soon to call it a trend. He said comparing shooting statistics from one year to the next doesn’t provide enough data to prove shooting crimes are on an upwards trend, because the numbers often fluctuate.
If the numbers were to rise for three to five years consecutively, however, that could determine a trend. But as of right now, OPD isn’t seeing that happen.
“It’s better to look at a five-year span,” Boggess said. “Any time you’re looking at a pattern like this, it’s dangerous to look for one reason. So many variations go into it. It’s hard to narrow it down to one, or even a couple, of reasons [for the increase].”
In the fall of 2018, OPD implemented its Flex Team to monitor areas of Owensboro seeing higher rates of gun violence. Boggess said OPD’s Flex Team was still active and working to lessen violent crime in high-risk areas of the city.
By contrast, Chief Deputy Major Barry Smith said the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has documented only one report of gun-related activity this year. The sole shooting incident was domestic, leaving two dead on Possum Trot Road.
