In the quiet neighborhood of Gardenside Drive in Owensboro, Kentucky, a tragic story unfolded on the evening of February 17, 2025, ending the life of 21-year-old Stephen L. Haught. A male resident of the city, Haught was discovered by authorities inside a residence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the quick response from emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Daviess County Coroner's Office.
The events leading to the discovery began with a chilling
911 call. The caller, later identified as 21-year-old Javar Acton, informed the dispatcher that he had just shot his friend. When officers from the Owensboro Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Acton standing in the driveway with his hands raised in surrender. A firearm was located on the trunk of his vehicle. This somber and surreal scene marked the beginning of a homicide investigation into the death of a young man known affectionately to his loved ones as 'Junior.'
Following his surrender, Javar Acton was taken into custody for questioning by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division. The investigation soon led to a formal charge of murder against him. Authorities determined that Acton had intentionally caused the death of his friend, Stephen L. Haught. The motive behind the shooting was not immediately released to the public. Acton was subsequently booked into the Daviess County Detention Center to await his court proceedings. The incident left the local community in a state of shock, as they mourned the loss of a young life and grappled with the violence that had shattered the peace of their neighborhood.
