Hazard, Ky – 2 Killed, 1 Injured in College Parking Lot Shooting

The second school shooting in a little more than month took place late Tuesday night, January 15th, 2013 in the parking lot of Hazard Community and Technical College in eastern Kentucky, killing two and sending another to the hospital.

According to police, the shooting evolved from a dispute between gunman Dalton Stidham and former girlfriend, Caitlin Cornett. The other two victims were identified as Jackie Cornett, Caitlin's 53 year-old uncle and the injured girl, her 12 year-old cousin. The name of the young girl has not been released since being admitted to Kentucky Children's Hospital where she is still in critical condition. She was shot several times.

Stidham, 21, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, according to Hazard police Chief Minor Allen. 

Allen also believes Stidham purchased the semiautomatic pistol found on site, at a nearby pawn shop earlier that day, lending the idea that the shooting was premeditated.

 

Police believe the dispute escalated from what was supposed to be an exchange in custody of Stidham and Cornett's two year-old son, after separating in October. Fortunately the boy was not injured and remains in custody of social services. However, by a little after 6 p.m., when police arrived, both Jackie and Caitlin Cornett were already dead.

According to the school's President Stephen Greiner, there were roughly 30 or so people on campus when the shooting took place. School was closed Wednesday and plans to re-open Thursday.