UPDATE: The assault victim has been identified as Tyshawn Hawkins, 18 years old, of Owensboro.
A shooting that occurred in the 2100 block of Carpenter Drive — the second shooting this week to occur in Owensboro — is being investigated by Owensboro Police Department. Detectives are currently searching for more information behind the initial burglary call that was made to dispatch, as well as the number of individuals possibly linked to the crime.
OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said detectives are receiving conflicting reports as to what occurred during Friday night’s shooting, which left an unidentified 18-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds.
“We haven’t determined if there was a burglary or not,” Boggess said. “We’re getting conflicting statements from the people who were there.”
Boggess said multiple people were inside the home on Carpenter Drive when the shooting took place. OPD was responding to a burglary call at the residence when, while in route, they were informed by dispatch of shots being fired at the same location. When OPD arrived at the scene, they found the victim outside in front of the residence.
“He was shot at least once in the torso area. He’s sustained some somewhat serious injuries,” Boggess said.
The name of the victim likely won’t be released until after the weekend, Boggess said. Because the shooter is a 17-year-old juvenile, the name of the shooter won’t be released unless an indictment is made at a later date.
Carpenter Drive, which is located between Gemini Drive and Tamarack Road near Apollo High School, is not located in an area that sees a lot of shootings or physical violence, Boggess said.
It’s difficult to determine whether the number of shootings that have occurred in 2019 are an increase from 2018. After a flex team was deployed to monitor the west end of downtown Owensboro last fall, they were demobilized in November 2018 due to a decrease in shootings and shots fired reports. However, Boggess did say OPD is keeping a watchful eye on the number of homicides that have occurred over the last three months.
“We’re already up to four homicides for the year,” Boggess said. “However, three of those occurred during a single incident [on Audubon Avenue].”
As for the incident on Carpenter Drive, Boggess said the investigation is still very much open as detectives gather more information about what led to the shooting.
“There’s still the potential for other charges to be made. We’re investigating the number of people possibly involved, as well as the burglary report,” Boggess said.
The suspect is currently being held at a juvenile detention center in Bowling Green for charges of first-degree assault and possession of a defaced firearm.
