UPDATE: The Owensboro Police Department is still attempting to locate Damartez Thruston, who has an outstanding warrant for murder. According to OPD, he is possibly armed and should be considered dangerous.
If you can help locate Damartez Thruston, please call OPD at 270-687-8888, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 270-687-8484.
UPDATE: A Daviess County Grand Jury has indicted Damartez Thruston, 18, of Owensboro, for murder in the shooting death of Kevin D. White.
The shooting that occurred Tuesday night and resulted in the homicide of Hopkinsville native Kevin D. White, is still under investigation. The Owensboro Police Department is working to determine a suspect, or suspects, that may have been involved in the incident that occurred at 1017 W. 8th St.
OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said investigators haven’t yet uncovered a “definitive” suspect in the homicide, but said investigators have made their rounds with neighbors and witnesses who may have potential leads for the case.
“We’ve talked to a number of people who’ve given us some potential leads,” Boggess said. “Detectives are investigating each and every one of those leads at this point.”
Boggess said investigators believe a number of people were located at the residence the night the shooting occurred. However, investigators are working to determine a motive for the incident.
“It’s safe to say that the residence was targeted,” Boggess said. “Someone at that location was targeted for some reason.”
According to OPD, the January triple homicide that occurred at 940 Audubon Ave. was more of “an open and shut case” as investigators were able to locate and charge the two suspects only a day after the homicide occurred.
However, Boggess said the quick arrest of those two suspects was an anomaly from typical homicide cases. Because of the video evidence that was uncovered at the location of that shooting, OPD investigators were able to see and more easily identify the shooters. Most homicide arrests don’t happen that quickly, Boggess said.
“That was a very atypical situation last time,” Boggess said of the video evidence. “In a case like this, where the suspect flees, it’s very unusual to solve it that quickly.”
According to Boggess, it’s unlikely that a new flex team would be assembled for the recent shootings that have occurred. If shootings were to increase in number, a new flex team may be a possibility but, for now, shootings in Owensboro have been down in compared to just a few months ago.
“We haven’t had a rash of shootings like we had in the fall,” Boggess said, adding that, while retaliation is always a concern in situations like this, he is hopeful that residents will leave this to the police and not instigate further violence.
“Retaliation is always a concern when we haven’t been able to charge anyone yet,” Boggess said.
OPD can’t say whether they believe one or multiple people were involved in the West 8th St. homicide, but Boggess said they are still investigating the number of people who may have been involved in Tuesday night’s crime.
