On a late Sunday night in Owensboro, Kentucky, the life of 30-year-old Joshua Hardison, a White male, was tragically cut short. The events unfolded on June 29, 2025, inside an apartment located on the 1800 block of Hughes Avenue. Just before midnight, the sound of gunfire shattered the evening's quiet, prompting a response from the Owensboro Police Department.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered a grim scene. Inside the residence, they found two individuals with gunshot wounds.
In a bedroom, Joshua Hardison was found with a fatal wound to his chest. He was rushed to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead. In the living room, a woman, later identified as Hardison's 52-year-old mother, Kelly Anderson, was also found with a gunshot wound. She was transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Preliminary investigations suggested that one or more intruders had entered the apartment, leading to a confrontation that ended in gunfire. Two individuals who were still at the scene when police arrived were taken in for questioning, and two firearms were recovered from the apartment. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Technicians began a thorough investigation, canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and any available surveillance footage. The Daviess County Coroner's Office officially identified Joshua Hardison as the deceased on July 1.
After a diligent investigation that spanned the summer, the Owensboro Police Department identified a suspect. On September 30, authorities arrested 24-year-old Jonathan Brown of Owensboro. He was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, and first-degree wanton endangerment in connection with the shooting. Despite the arrest, officials stated that the case remained an active and ongoing investigation.
