In the early morning hours of a Sunday in Oak Grove, Kentucky, a 911 hang-up call led police to a residence on Arkansas Avenue, the scene of a grim discovery. Inside, they found 27-year-old Gaige Louis Gilbert, a White male, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The tragic event unfolded on April 13, 2025, leaving a community in mourning. Gilbert, a former Sergeant in the U.S. Army who had served as a paratrooper and marksman, was known for his love of vehicles and his adventurous spirit.
He was originally from Saint Clair County, Michigan, and had graduated from Marysville High School.
As officers responded to the initial call, they heard a gunshot from within the home. Upon entering, they found Gilbert deceased. The investigation quickly led them to a second individual, 35-year-old Michael Johnson, who was found in a barricaded room, also deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Christian County Coroner's Office pronounced both men dead at the scene, each from a single gunshot wound.
The Oak Grove Police Department, with assistance from the Hopkinsville Police, the Christian County Sheriff's Office, and Hopkinsville EMS, is investigating the incident as a murder-suicide. At this time, authorities have not indicated any other suspects or made any arrests in connection with the deaths of Gilbert and Johnson. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragic event is ongoing. Gaige Gilbert is survived by his parents and siblings, who will remember his dedication to service and his zest for life. Military honors were conducted at his funeral service in recognition of his time in the Army.
