In the quiet community of Moreland, Kentucky, a tragedy unfolded on the night of February 5, 2018, forever altering the lives of a local family. Kala Francisco, a 31-year-old woman from the nearby town of Hustonville, was fatally shot in a home on Raintree Drive. The incident left her loved ones grappling with a sudden and violent loss. Friends and family remembered her as a good mother and an inspirational friend, gathering for a candlelight vigil to share memories and sing 'Amazing Grace' in
her honor.
Responding to a call that evening, Kentucky State Police discovered Francisco with life-threatening injuries. A responding officer administered CPR until emergency medical technicians arrived and transported her to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, but her injuries proved fatal, and she died that same night. The shooting occurred while Francisco's children were present in the home, though they were physically unharmed.
The investigation quickly focused on one individual: Shawn E. Faulkner, a 26-year-old man from Hustonville who was known to be in a relationship with Francisco. He was detained by police shortly after the shooting. Although initially held on other charges, including possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and drug trafficking, authorities were confident they had the person responsible for the shooting.
Following the collection of evidence from the scene, a Lincoln County grand jury indicted Faulkner on a charge of murder. The investigation revealed that Faulkner, due to a prior felony conviction, was prohibited from possessing a handgun. Ultimately, in a resolution to the criminal proceedings, Shawn Faulkner pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and being a felon in possession of a handgun. He was subsequently sentenced to eighteen years in prison for his role in the death of Kala Francisco.
