Coty Allen Lawhorn, a 28-year-old male, tragically lost his life on Friday, June 8, 2018. The fatal incident unfolded that morning around 10:15 AM at a residence on Highway 92 in Clinton County, Kentucky, stemming from a custody dispute. Lawhorn, a resident of Russell Springs, worked in road construction.
During the dispute, David Johnson, 38, of Albany, allegedly opened fire.
The shooting resulted in the death of Coty Lawhorn and seriously injured his 29-year-old wife, Jessica Lawhorn, who was subsequently airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. According to Kentucky State Police, the shooter was the biological father of two of the children present, while Coty Lawhorn was the father of the third child.
Following the shooting, Johnson fled the scene in a white and blue GMC pickup truck, taking three juveniles with him against their will. Law enforcement located his vehicle about 25 minutes later in Albany. After a brief pursuit, the Clinton County Sheriff's Office apprehended Johnson. The children were found unharmed. Johnson was arrested and charged with the murder of Coty Lawhorn, among other charges, and was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center with a $1 million bond.
