ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Law enforcement raced to respond to a shooting outside the Hardin County courthouse, where two people were killed and one sustained injuries. The suspect, 46-year-old Christopher Elder, has a history of domestic abuse per court documents and later shot himself after a car chase. 

What You Need To Know

  • A shooting outside the Hardin County courthouse the morning of Aug. 19 left two dead and one injured 

  • Many nearby businesses closed down amid the violence 

  • Some Elizabethtown residents said they're feeling shaken and are praying for better days ahead 

  • The suspect of the shooting is 46-year-old Christopher Elder, who has a history of domestic abuse, per court documents

This has left some community members a little shaken. 

“It’s pretty disturbing when you hear any kind of shooting anywhere, but especially when it's closer to home, it’s pretty bothersome," said Rhonda Deviney of Elizabethtown. 

Deviney was driving through town as police cars swarmed the area.

“I was doordashing in the area, saw the police come from Blue Oval, and as I came up, I saw that the roads were blocked," she said. 

Many nearby businesses closed their doors just seconds after the shooting before police cars zoomed by, said Elizabethtown resident Russ Galton. 

“Our law enforcement was here within a minute of the incident, roped off the area and began to go to work immediately," Galton said. 

Hours after the shooting, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., expressed his condolences to the victims on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Deviney, who has been in the area for 20 years, said she's praying for better days.

“Just praying for each family; that's all I can do," she said. "It’s scary, but that’s my first thought, always.”

Elizabethtown Police said the shooting was a domestic violence incident as Elder was dating 37-year-old Erica Riley, one of the two victims who was killed. Riley’s mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley of Hardinsburg, also died in the hospital after sustaining injuries. A third victim, who is a man and related to both Erica and Janet, is hospitalized but in stable condition, EPD said. 

Two children of one of the victims were at the scene during the shooting, police said; however, they are now safe.

Elder was flown to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Tennessee after attempting to take his own life following a vehicle chase with the Hopkinsville Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Christian County Sheriff’s Office and Muhlenberg County Sheriff’s Office. According to HPD, negotiators were speaking with him for approximately 90 minutes before he attempted to take his own life.

"The suspect, Christopher Elder, is currently hospitalized in critical condition," said Chris Denham, Elizabethtown Police Department public affairs officer. "Following a vehicle pursuit in western Kentucky, the situation ended in a standoff during which Elder shot himself."

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