Update, February 15 — William Arant, an 18-year-old suspect in a Calhoun murder investigation, was captured during the night in Owensboro. He was lodged in the Muhlenberg County Detention Center and charged with murder and first-degree burglary. He is being held on a $1 million cash bond is scheduled to be arraigned in McLean County court on February 21.
Many law enforcement agencies assisted in the search including KSP, Owensboro Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, and McLean County Sheriff’s Office.
The McLean County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement via Facebook about the incident. It reads:
There is a lot of misinformation going around in regards to the response to the shooting in Calhoun that occurred on 2/9/23. So here are the actual times and facts of the call that I can release at this time. When the call came in to dispatch it was not reported as a shooting. It was reported that an 18 year old was unconscious but breathing. The call came in at 0240. McLean County EMS was dispatched and they arrived on scene at 0247. When checking the patient EMS discovered that he had been shot. Due to the actions of some of the subjects at the scene EMS determined the scene was not safe for them to remain on scene so they immediately left, staged nearby, and radioed dispatch to notify law enforcement at 0249. I received the call from dispatch at 0249. I obtained the call information from dispatch threw on my gear and went it route from Sacramento. While getting enroute I advised dispatch to send a second unit and contact KSP as well. I arrived on scene at 0311. Once on scene I began the process of making the scene safe. I cleared the residence for occupants and had all the subjects on scene stand a distance from residence except for the mother that was performing CPR.
After some resistance all subjects on scene complied with commands and I deemed the scene safe at 0312 and advised EMS they could return to scene. They arrived back on scene at 0313. EMS then took the victim to the hospital. Once a second law enforcement unit arrived on scene at 0323. I went back in the residence with consent to survey the potential crime scene. Once I ascertained the high probability that a crime had been committed I notified dispatch to request that KSP send a crime scene unit and detective to the scene. A KSP unit arrived at approximately 0340. Detectives arrived sometime after 0400.
During this call the 911 dispatcher kept an open line with a caller until someone at the scene hung up the phone shortly prior to my arrival. Inspite that fact several subjects prior to my arrival on scene were calling 911 at the same time thus tying up all our 911 trunks lines and administration lines. Once this occurs 911 calls then roll over to Daviess County. Most 911 centers have similar systems in place.
The dispatcher answered the calls on our lines that came through and advised that she already had someone on the line in reference to the call however several subjects kept calling.
Despite all the rumors and false accusations the dispatcher and all emergency responders did a good job considering the circumstances of this call.
Please join us in prayer for the family and if you have any information regarding this case contact the Kentucky State Police or our office.
Sheriff Ken Frizzell
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Original story, February 12 — Kentucky State Police is searching for an 18-year-old in connection to a Calhoun murder, and officials say the suspect is last believed to be in the Owensboro area and he is considered armed and dangerous.
Troopers are searching for William C. Arant, of Island, for murder and first-degree burglary. KSP said he is also known as “Conor” or “Willie.” A warrant has been issued and Arant is considered armed and dangerous.
KSP is requesting anyone who knows the whereabouts of Arant to contact KSP Post 16 at 270-826-3312 or your local police agency. You may also download the free KSP mobile app to leave anonymous information.
According to KSP, troopers are conducting a death investigation after reports of a shot male in Calhoun on February 9. KSP troopers received the call around 3:20 a.m. that day.
Troopers responded to the residence and located 20-year-old Steven G. Powell of Calhoun with an apparent gunshot wound to his abdomen. Powell was transported by McLean County EMS to Owensboro Health where he later died.
