On a summer day in Paintsville, Kentucky, the life of 55-year-old Richard Roberts was tragically cut short. On August 1, 2026, Roberts was found unresponsive in the driveway of a residence on Main Camp Branch in Thealka. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The events that led to his death began with a brief physical altercation, which escalated to the point of a firearm being discharged.
Responding to a 911 dispatch, Kentucky State Police troopers arrived at the scene to find Roberts, a resident of River, Kentucky. The Johnson County Coroner's Office pronounced him deceased at the scene. The preliminary investigation pointed to 27-year-old Blake Webb of West Van Lear as the individual who fired the weapon, striking Roberts. After the shooting, Webb fled the scene but was apprehended by authorities a short time later in the vicinity.
Following his arrest, Blake Webb was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. He faces multiple serious charges, including Murder, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon. The investigation into the death of Richard Roberts was led by Detective Joseph Coleman of the Kentucky State Police, with assistance from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and the Paintsville Police Department. Online sources available do not contain information regarding a trial, conviction, or sentencing in this case.
