In the early morning hours of February 24, 2026, the quiet of a secluded Melbourne, Kentucky community was shattered by a call to police reporting a burglary in progress. When officers arrived at the home on Coles Road, they found the homeowner, 39-year-old Jared Strup Sr., on his front porch with a gunshot wound to the stomach. First responders administered aid at the scene, and he was then rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Hamilton County Coroner's Office has since ruled his death an apparent homicide. Neighbors in the close-knit area reported being concerned, with some having installed security systems due to previous burglaries in the neighborhood.
The investigation into the death of the man, a 2005 graduate of Beechwood High School and a truck driver, is being handled by the Campbell County Special Investigation Response Team and the Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney's Office. Initially, authorities stated they believed it was an isolated incident and there was no ongoing threat to the public. As the investigation unfolded, a connection was made to a prior incident at the same residence. About a month before Strup's death, on January 19, there were reports of multiple shots being fired into the home.
This earlier shooting led to the arrest of 19-year-old Preston Gill. Investigators believe the January shooting was targeted, possibly as retaliation against someone believed to have provided information to law enforcement about another crime. Gill is now facing several charges, including attempted murder, tampering with evidence, and retaliation in connection to the January incident. However, authorities have made it clear that Gill is not charged in the February shooting that resulted in the death of Jared Strup Sr. The investigation into his homicide is ongoing, and police are still working to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for his death.
