Man Goes On Shooting Spree In Kentucky, Threatens To Kill Mother, Arrested

A man in Somerset, Kentucky, was arrested Saturday (May 30) after he went on a shooting spree.

Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office responded to the 4600 block of Elihu Cabin Hollow Road after receiving reports that a man, later identified as 56-year-old James Lawrence Wilkinson, was driving around the area in a gray Dodge Dakota, shooting from his vehicle. The dispatchers were told that the man was shooting at passersby and buildings.

The deputies arrived at the scene and found the vehicle in the driveway of a home.

"A male subject was sitting inside the vehicle, and a female was standing outside. The male subject was armed with an SKS rifle and multiple handguns. Units on the scene were able to take James Wilkinson into custody without incident,” Major Jeff Hancock of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigation revealed that the home where the truck was found belonged to Wilkinson's parents. It was also revealed that before going to his parents’ home, the accused had been to another home in the locality, where he opened fire at the residents. He then drove to his parents’ home, firing randomly at passersby and buildings.

After reaching his parents' house, he parked the vehicle in the driveway and pointed a gun at his mother’s head, threatening to kill her. He then proceeded to break the windows of a van that was parked outside the home using a hatchet.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they found the accused inside his vehicle and arrested him. Nobody was injured in the incident.

"No injuries were reported from these incidents, but due to the nature of the crimes reported and the statements by the victims, Wilkinson was charged with attempted murder," Hancock said.

The accused was also charged with one count of first-degree wanton endangerment and two counts of first-degree criminal mischief. He remained in jail as of Sunday (May 31) and was scheduled to appear in Pulaski District Court on Monday (June 1).