Three people were shot, two of whom are dead, in Independence overnight on Sunday and into Monday morning, according to Independence Police. The police believe the incident to be a murder-suicide.
Police were called to the Taylor Ridge apartment complex around 11:21 p.m. Sunday night after reports of a shooting, according to a press release from the department. Upon arrival, they located a man, 33-year-old Daylon Bradford, with apparent gun shot wounds outside of the apartments. He was transported to the hospital and is critical condition as of Monday afternoon.
Officers were informed that a male suspect, 34-year-old Donald Bryant, and 24-year-old victim Heavan Gilson, had fled into a nearby wooded area. The police set up a perimeter and deployed dogs and drones to find them. Police told LINK nky’s content sharing partner WCPO they were searching for the suspects when they heard roughly eight gunshots. A drone also located what appeared to be a person in the woods. Finally around 3 a.m., a police dog found both Bryant and Gilson dead in an apparent murder, suicide from gunshot wounds.
No other injuries were reported. Police initially released an alert to neighbors in the area to shelter in place using the county’s CodeRED warning system, but Independence Police Captain Mike Brock said there is no longer any suspected threat to the public.
The investigation is ongoing.
“Officers are currently looking for a 1992, 2-door white Honda Prelude with a black hood,” according to a police press release. “The rear window has a white picture of a female, bent over, with the words ‘Panty Dropper.’ KY Registration SOG-514.”
The department is asking anyone with any information about the incident to contact Independence Detective Higgins at (859)363-2919 or the Kenton County Emergency Communication Center at (859)356-3191.
Grace Hamilton of WCPO contributed reporting to this story.