Floyd man arrested in shooting incident

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PRESTONSBURG — A Floyd County man was arrested Saturday by the Prestonsburg Police Department in connection with a shooting incident involving his ex-wife.

Joshua Keith Hoover of Garrett is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment; convicted felon in possession of a firearm; first-degree criminal mischief; violation of a Kentucky EPO/DVO; as a host of minor charges.

A press release issued by the department said that Prestonsburg 911 Center received multiple 911 calls of a male armed with a handgun at the Dixie Housing Complex in the Goble Roberts community of Prestonsburg.

Shortly after, additional calls were received that the male had fired the handgun into an apartment several times and was fleeing the scene. Within minutes, the release said, Prestonsburg police officers were on the scene and had contacted the female in the apartment to verify she was unharmed.

Officers learned that the woman was the ex-wife of the perpetrator, who was discovered to be Hoover, and the victim had an active protective order against him that was in full force and effect of law, the release said.

Officers recovered shell casings and found the front door was shot through several times, the release said.

Additional responding units attempted to locate Hoover, but were unsuccessful. After processing the scene, officers encouraged the victim to leave and harbor safety at another location, so she went to her mother’s house, the release said.

A short time later, Prestonsburg 911 had additional calls that Hoover had arrived at the victim’s mother’s home in Prestonsburg and was attempting to force entry into the apartment, the release said.

Officers quickly arrived and located Hoover, who attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle but was stopped on Ky. 321 near Mays Branch and was ordered from the vehicle, the release said. K-9 Nelson was deployed as a precaution to be seen by Hoover, who elected to surrender without incident.

Upon his arrest, Hoover was found to be in possession of a bullet-resistant vest and admitted to having shot at his ex-wife’s house, the release said.

Hoover was taken into custody and transported to the Floyd County Detention Center.

Officers Darrell Preston and Jake Chaffins, along with K-9 Nelson, “exhibited unwavering courage as they responded to what they knew to be an active shooter situation in a neighborhood crowded with children and their loved ones,” the release said.

“Their additional rapid response resulted in removing an obviously dangerous person from the community,” the release said.