On Wednesday, Sept. 26, Owensboro shooting suspect, Katherine E. Hoffman, pled not guilty to an assault charge in the first degree. According to Owensboro Police Department, Hoffman is a suspect in the Sunday, Sept. 23 shooting of Omari McFarlane, believed to be a longtime boyfriend of Hoffman’s, according to a citation and police report provided by Daviess County Judicial Center.
A Daviess County District Judge entered a not guilty plea on Hoffman’s behalf as the suspect was present before the court via video conference from the Daviess County Detention Center. A public defender will be appointed for Hoffman’s hearing on Monday, Oct. 1.
Hoffman’s bail is set at $500,000 cash.
According to the police report, OPD responded to a shooting early Sunday morning on Sept. 23. Officers determined McFarlane was the victim, and alleged that he was shot at his residence on E. 17th St, then shot again in his vehicle, a 2008 Chevy Tahoe.
OPD executed multiple search warrants and discovered “various inculpatory statements” made by Hoffman, which implicated herself in the shooting. OPD officers also retrieved a spent bullet at McFarlane’s residence and located a handgun from “a hidden rear compartment” in the Tahoe. Hoffman had allegedly driven the Tahoe, stopping it in the road immediately before McFarlane was shot inside the vehicle.
According to the report, an EMS responder on the scene witnessed Hoffman approach and access the back-end of the vehicle after the shooting occurred.
McFarlane was shot in the chest, face and left elbow a total of four times. He was admitted to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds. McFarlane’s current condition is “stable,” according to OPD Public Information Officer, Andrew Boggess.
