Update 3 — March 9, 9:34 p.m.
Ayden Farrow is facing new charges of murder (complicity) and second-degree assault (complicity) in connection with the shooting, and investigators are asking for the public’s help identifying a vehicle that may have been near the scene.
Update 2 — March 7, 9:40 p.m.
The 19-year-old who was killed has been identified, and authorities say the suspect wanted for murder in the case turned himself in to police.
Update 1 — March 7, 9:40 p.m.
The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has released a wanted poster for a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting early Saturday morning in the Knottsville area.
Original Story
The investigation into a fatal shooting early Saturday morning in the Knottsville area remains active as authorities continue searching for a suspect and piecing together what happened at a late-night field party.
According to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch received a report around 1 a.m. Saturday of a shooting near KY 144 and St. Lawrence Road. Authorities said an altercation occurred at a field party before an individual began firing a handgun, striking multiple people.
A 19-year-old male died shortly after arriving at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, according to DCSO. A juvenile who was also shot was treated at the hospital and later released Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Sheriff Brad Youngman said Sunday that no new developments had occurred overnight, though investigators continue to work the case.
“We’re still working it,” Youngman said. “We have some things that we’re working on that I can’t really talk about right now. Maybe tomorrow.”
Authorities said investigators identified two persons of interest during the investigation and tracked their movements from Knottsville to La Grange in Oldham County.
According to the sheriff’s office, Ayden Louis Farrow, 19, of La Grange, was arrested after being located during a traffic stop in La Grange while investigators were conducting surveillance on a residence. Farrow was transported to Owensboro and lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension and tampering with physical evidence. Authorities said he is being held on a $250,000 bond.
A warrant has also been issued for James Semaj Carr, 20, of Crestwood, who is wanted on charges of murder, second-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence. DCSO said Carr is believed to be armed and dangerous and should only be approached by law enforcement.
Youngman said investigators determined the two suspects had traveled to the Knottsville gathering from Oldham County after being invited by people attending the party.
“There’s messaging on phones that shows they were told about the party. They were invited by people that knew them and they attended the party,” Youngman said.
Youngman said investigators believe at least one physical altercation occurred during the gathering before a firearm was introduced.
“There appears to have been at least one, if not more than one, physical altercation at the party,” Youngman said. “We’re still looking into exactly why one of these people from Oldham County felt like the need to introduce a firearm into that equation.”
Earlier in the evening, deputies had responded to the same area after receiving a call about a small gathering around a bonfire, Youngman said.
Two deputies made contact with a small group around 9 p.m., he said.
“No one was drunk that they could tell, no drugs, no alcohol,” Youngman said. “They just spoke with them and told them to make good decisions and be safe.”
Youngman said the individuals believed to be responsible for the shooting were not present at that time and likely arrived later as the gathering grew.
“This is one of those situations where the party gets bigger the later the night goes,” he said.
Investigators said the case quickly became complex as deputies and detectives followed leads and gathered information from numerous witnesses.
Youngman said investigators ultimately processed four separate crime scenes as part of the investigation.
One was the emergency department at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where victims and witnesses gathered after the shooting. Another involved a vehicle in the hospital parking lot used to transport one of the victims and containing potential evidence. The field where the party occurred and a nearby parking area where many vehicles were parked also became crime scenes.
“When I spoke earlier about how complex this case was, it did not slow down,” Youngman said. “It was constant information coming in. Everything we would track down led to more.”
Youngman said investigators worked for nearly a full day processing evidence, conducting interviews and following digital leads before obtaining the arrest warrant and identifying the suspects.
“We had a lot of people working on this pretty much a full day,” he said.
Youngman said deputies were eventually instructed to get some rest after working for nearly 40 hours straight, though many investigators were reluctant to step away from the case.
“This case was hot from the beginning,” Youngman said. “My team did not want to stop.”
Youngman also credited several agencies and community partners who assisted in the investigation, including Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital staff, the Daviess County Coroner’s Office, Daviess County Public Schools and law enforcement agencies in Oldham County.
“The public provided tons of information, video and lots of assistance,” Youngman said. “You can never build a case like this, especially one this complex, without their input.”
Authorities said the investigation remains open and additional charges are possible. The identity of the deceased victim has not yet been released.
