Terry Dwayne Short was a father, grandfather, and brother who was deeply loved by his family. Born on March 28, 1971, in Floyd County, Kentucky, to the late Hubert and Eddie Thornsberry Short, Terry, a 55-year-old male, spent his life in the area and was a resident of Kite in Knott County. He was a father to his children, Kristy, Keaton, and Kameron, and a proud grandfather to Kinsley, Branson, Bryson, and Kylianna.
Terry was preceded in death by a son, Brandon Dwayne Slone, and a brother, Larry Short. His passing left a profound void in the lives of his surviving children, grandchildren, his brother Gary, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who knew and loved him.
The evening of Monday, September 28, 2026, brought sudden tragedy to the small community of Kite. At approximately 9:39 p.m., Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard received a distress call reporting a shooting. Troopers and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the 13000 block of Kentucky Route 7, a rural highway in Knott County. Upon arrival at an apartment building, they found Terry Short outside, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper back and the side and back of his head.
Despite the immediate response from first responders, Terry’s injuries proved fatal. The Knott County Coroner's Office pronounced him deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation by the state police indicated that a violent altercation had occurred between Terry and his 44-year-old nephew, Robert Allen Short, who was also a resident of Kite. During the course of the argument, a firearm was discharged, striking Terry multiple times.
Robert Short was located at the scene and taken into custody by troopers. He was transported to the Kentucky River Regional Jail and lodged on one count of murder. After being advised of his rights, he chose to remain silent. Trooper Matt Gayheart, a public information officer for the state police, informed the public that it was an isolated incident between family members and there was no further threat to the community. He also stated that investigators were still working to determine what led to the initial confrontation and ultimately the shooting.
An autopsy for Terry Short was scheduled with the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner in Frankfort to officially determine the cause of his death. The investigation into the homicide is being led by Kentucky State Police Detective Nathan Roark. As of late 2026, the case was pending in the court system, with Robert Short awaiting legal proceedings for the murder charge.
In the days following his death, Terry's family gathered to mourn their loss. Visitations were held at the Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home in Hindman, Kentucky, on Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, 2026. A funeral service was conducted at the funeral home chapel on Monday, October 5th, with Old Regular Baptist ministers officiating. Terry Dwayne Short was laid to rest at the Sherman Short Cemetery in Kite. His family remembered him as a man who would be "greatly missed by all who knew and loved him." In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the funeral home to assist with expenses.
