In the small community of Possum Trot, Kentucky, the discovery of a body outside an abandoned home on Dalton Lane shattered the rural quiet. On March 25, 2016, 47-year-old Gary J. Lambert was found deceased, the victim of a single gunshot wound to the head. A Paducah resident and a firearms enthusiast, Lambert was known in his community as a concealed carry instructor at Shooters Supply and a former owner of Lambert's Deli.
His sudden and violent death prompted an investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.
The investigation into Lambert's death quickly led authorities to a suspect. Joseph L. Cunningham, a 38-year-old from Paducah, was identified as the individual responsible for Lambert's death. According to reports, the two men were acquainted and had arranged to meet for the sale of allegedly stolen firearms. It was during this transaction that the fatal shooting occurred. Following the incident, Cunningham reportedly fled the scene in Lambert's vehicle, accompanied by his girlfriend, Kristy Keener.
The pair was later apprehended in Jefferson County, Illinois, after being pulled over while driving the victim's car. Cunningham was taken into custody and subsequently confessed to Illinois authorities, claiming he shot Lambert in self-defense during the firearm sale. He faced a slew of charges in Marshall County, including murder, first-degree robbery, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Keener also faced charges in connection with the incident. A trial for Joseph L. Cunningham was later set for March 19, 2018, in Marshall County Circuit Court.
