McKenna Street shooting case forwarded to grand jury

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

Christopher Rye appeared via Zoom for his preliminary hearing where it was determined that his felony case would be sent to a grand jury.

Before a case is sent to a grand jury it is usually heard in district court — in fact it is the district court that decides in many cases if a case goes to a grand jury for possible indictment — but, due to District Court Judge Gabe Pendleton’s unavailability, Circuit Court Judge John Alexander filled in.

Rye is currently lodged in the Barren County Detention Center on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment after he, according to the Glasgow Police Department arrest citation, shot a juvenile in the abdominal region on May 24. It was in reference to this case that Rye appeared virtually before Alexander.

Joining Alexander, and the two attorneys, was Glasgow Police Department Detective Aaron Cowen, who lodged Rye in the Barren County Detention Center.

Once Cowen was sworn in by Alexander he informed the judge that Rye both admitted to firing the gun at the juvenile and to “possessing and using” the gun that was found nearby. He was also asked to speak on the condition of the juvenile who was, at the time of the shooting, “treated by the Barren/Metcalfe EMS [and] later transported to the University of Louisville Hospital.”

“His condition is still critical,” Cowen said. “He has sustained life-long injuries to his abdominal region. He has had intensive surgery in those areas [and] continues to be in critical condition with life-long injuries he’ll have to recover from.”

After being cross examined by Rye’s Attorney Kevin Parent about the preservation of the collected video footage, Alexander spoke regarding the case’s next steps.

“Long story short I’m going to find there was probable cause for the charge of first-degree assault [and] the charge of wanton endangerment in the first degree,” Alexander said. “I’m going to find probable cause in respect to [Rye’s felony case] and send it to a grand jury.”

Alexander also moved to revoke Rye’s bond in his misdemeanor case despite Parent’s motion to lower it.

After his case was heard and forwarded to a grand jury tensions ran high outside the Barren County Courthouse with Rye’s mother and the juvenile’s friends and family members exchanging words, and allegedly threats. Numerous bailiffs from inside the courthouse came down the steps to break up the two parties. In the end, Rye’s mother got into her car and left while the others stayed and talked with the several Glasgow Police Department officers who had shown up to the scene.