New shooting hits Kentucky homeless shelter, leaves two dead

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Aug 2022 09:29

Gun violence in the US has gone as far as targeting a homeless shelter for men.

Two people were killed and two were wounded in the shooting. (AP)

Two were killed and two were wounded in a shooting at a homeless shelter for men in western Kentucky. Authorities confirm that a suspect has been arrested.

Police responded to an allegation of an active shooter at the Harbor House Christian Center on Thursday night, according to a statement posted on social media by the Henderson Police Department.

The incident happened at around 7:40 pm while about 15 individuals were inside the building in Evansville, Indiana, according to Henderson City Commissioner Robert Pruitt. Kenneth B. Gibbs has been charged with two charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to Henderson Police Lt. Stuart O'Nan.

After the shooting, Gibbs was found thanks to a tip from the public and taken into jail without a hitch shortly before 10 pm on Friday, according to Henderson Police Chief Sean McKinney. Witnesses at the shelter recognized Gibbs as the shooter, and he was carrying a weapon when he was discovered.

The injured men remained at the hospital on Friday, but McKinney said they were in stable condition.
Inmates at the Henderson County jail were keeping Gibbs. No information about his legal representation is available online.

Both Gibbs and the victims, according to O'Nan, resided in the shelter. Police have not disclosed a shooting motive and have not named the injured victims. Police reported the deaths of Chad Holmes, 44, and Steven Wathen, 67.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Henderson this morning after a senseless act of violence," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear tweeted Friday morning. “Britainy and I pray those injured recover quickly and we give thanks to our brave first responders. Henderson, we stand with you.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Henderson this morning after a senseless act of violence took the lives of two people and left four injured. Britainy and I pray those injured recover quickly and we give thanks to our brave first responders. Henderson, we stand with you. ^AB
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) August 26, 2022

On its Facebook page, Harbor House describes itself as a "safe harbor for men in need." Pruitt revealed that Harbor House has been an asset for the community since it opened in 1989, but “tonight puts a scar on that.”

Harbor House resident Brian McClain said a church service just ended and he was resting in a dorm room when a man he believed to be the shooter turned the lights on suddenly. “He looked at me funny and shut the light back off, and when he went out the dorm room, it wasn’t five seconds later I heard shots,” he said.

He explained that he jumped out of bed, unlocked a window, and climbed out. “It’s crazy,” he said. “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with people, man.”

Gun violence in the US has become the main cause of death among the youth in the US, with the majority of gun-related incidents concentrated in schools across the country.

The recent spree of tragic shootings in the US has pushed guns to the forefront of a national debate as US leaders grapple with how to reduce the alarming rate of violence.

The number of school shootings in the United States has been exponentially rising as of late, surging to reach 193 documented incidents during the last academic year. These crimes have left 59 people dead and scores wounded, advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety has lately said in a report.