A 21-year-old Owensboro man has been arrested after police allege he shot a 56-year-old man in the leg Tuesday night, according to the Owensboro Police Department. The victim’s injuries are expected to be non-life-threatening.
Preston D. Blair has been charged with first-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence for the incident.
According to a release, at approximately 10:40 p.m. OPD received reports of a shooting in the 1700 block of McConnell Avenue. Officers were already in the area due to increased patrols and quickly made contact with the victim, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.
Officers immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg to significantly decrease bleeding, according to OPD. The victim was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
According to OPD, officers canvassed the area, interviewed multiple witnesses and recovered a firearm hidden near the scene. Officers were able to identify and locate the suspect, Blair, who was taken into custody.
An OPD K-9 was used for an article search which led to officers locating a second firearm hidden in the area where the suspect was taken into custody, according to OPD. The Criminal Investigations Division responded to continue the investigation. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence of the suspect where additional evidence was located.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call OPD at 270-687-8888, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 270-687-8484.
