An Owensboro man is facing multiple charges after a firearm discharge resulted in one person in another apartment being shot in the leg early Saturday morning, according to police reports. The suspect was also later charged with possession of cocaine, records show.
The Owensboro Police Department posted a brief release at 1:40 p.m. on Monday about the incident. An arrest citation shows the incident occurred in the 2200 block of Fulkerson Drive at approximately 2:35 a.m. Saturday. According to the citation, one subject was shot in the leg.
According to the release, officers located the gunshot victim upon arrival and provided medical care until AMR arrived. The investigation revealed that an adult male sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound when a bullet came through the wall and struck him in his legs, according to the release.
Officials identified the suspect as 24-year-old Michael Chavez. The OPD release says Chavez “admitted that he was showing off the gun when the gun went off.”
Arrest citations obtained by Owensboro Times provided more details about the incident.
According to one citation, Chavez “advised that he and some friends returned home from the bar and were hanging out” and “that he was showing off a firearm when a negligent discharge occurred.” The report says Chavez told police that his brother left with the firearm after it discharged.
“The bullet exited Chavez’s apartment and entered the victim’s apartment, where it struck one subject in the leg,” according to the report, which says the victim was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. “The second victim, sitting in the bathtub, was within feet of the trajectory of the bullet.”
Chavez was charged with second-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment. He was lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center late Saturday morning.
Additional charges were levied against Chavez after he was found with suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to a separate citation.
A report shows that an officer was in the law enforcement room with Chavez at DCDC, and that a member of the jail staff entered and brought Chavez a container for his personal items.
“Michael removed a small container with three key rings, and a small spoon attached from his right front pocket. Michael had inside of a clear plastic bag that contained his personal [e]ffects a toilet paper roll with a rubber band attached to the end. The jailer opened the silver container, and observed a white powder type substance at the bottom,” the report reads.
According to the citation, Chavez advised the officer the substance was cocaine.
Chavez was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
