WQXE News

New details have been released in an Elizabethtown Police Department Officer-involved fatal shooting.

The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene of the incident December 7th. They handled all investigation procedures.

The KSP released preliminary results of their investigation Monday afternoon. The incident began when EPD Sgt. Chris Lewis was assisting with a domestic violence investigation. He transported several juvenile witnesses along with the victim to their residence on Pleasant View Drive. When Lewis and those in his cruiser arrived, the alleged suspect, 34-year-old Gary McCormick, of Elizabethtown was there.

Sgt Lewis left his vehicle to speak with McCormick and an altercation ensued. Lewis deployed his agency issued taser on McCormick. The suspect then disarmed Lewis and attempted to use the taser on the officer. Lewis then fired his agency issued firearm striking McCormick.

Lewis attempted to render medical aid to McCormick, but he was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

Elizabethtown Police Officer Chris Denham said any questions about the incident should be referred to the Kentucky State Police, as it is the investigating agency.

An Upton man has been indicted on multiple charges after the murder of 27-year-old Erica Burden.

On November 9th, 2021, Erica Burden was reported missing. She was last seen dropping her child off at school at approximately 7:55 that morning. Two days later, 53-year-old William “Billy” Burden was arrested and charged with Murder (Domestic Violence), Tampering with Physical Evidence and Abuse of a Corpse.

On December 20th, 2021, Burden was indicted at the Larue County Circuit Court Division II. 

“The charges are Murder-Domestic Violence, which is a Class A Felony, Charge 2 is Abuse of a Corpse which is a Class D Felony, Charge 3 is Tampering with Physical Evidence which is a Class D Felony and Charge 4 is Convicted Felon in Possession of Handgun which is a Class C Felony,” stated Larue County Circuit Court Clerk, Emily Ernst. 

Burden’s arraignment is scheduled for January 3rd at 10 a.m. in the Larue County Circuit Court Division II under Judge Ballard.

Late last week, representatives from ibV Energy Partners held an informational meeting on the controversial Rhudes Creek Project.

The project, consisting of a 100 megawatt solar farm, has many residents concerned this will take away prime farmland. During the meeting, ibV stated they have plans of allowing landowners to continue farming the land. 

“We are going to graze sheep on this project. We also are going to plant bee pollinators to bring the bee population back and monarch butterflies. And the life of this project is a 35 year lifespan for these solar panels. In 35 years, we’ll go back to agriculture,” stated ibV co-founder Robin Saiz. He believes another benefit of the project will be reliability. 

“Whether it’s a coal factory, a new factory or something that’s in another part of the state that’s supplying your power down here, if they go offline for something, you now have energy that’s being generated here locally that’s going to provide you grid reliability when other things go offline.”

The project awaits a conditional use permit hearing set to take place next month.