NKyTribune staff report
Big Bone Lick State Park in Union was closed overnight after a report of shots fired.
The Boone County Sheriff’s office says Deputies responded to a call at the park at about 10:00 p.m. Thursday after State Park Rangers located a suspicious vehicle near a lake. A registration check indicated the vehicle belong to a man from Maryland that was reported missing, possibly suicidal.
As Rangers began to search for the man, they reported shots fired in the area and Sheriff’s Deputies were called in to assist with a search. The search was called off due to darkness and was expected to resume today.
As of this morning, the park remains closed and the man has not been located. Campers have been urged to leave the park until the situation is resolved.
The Boone County Sheriff’s office issued the following release regarding the incident:
At approximately 10:03 p.m. Thursday, June 17, 2016, Boone County Sheriff Deputies responded to Big Bone Lick State Park located at 3380 Beaver Road in Union, to assist Park Rangers with a shots fired call.
State Park Rangers located a suspicious vehicle parked near a lake, and a registration check revealed the registered owner to be listed as ‘Missing, possibly suicidal, and possibly armed with a gun” from Hagerstown, Maryland.
State Park Rangers began conducting an immediate search of the area, and upon calling out the subject’s name, three shots from a suspected firearm were fired in the general area. Deputies were requested to assist the State Park Rangers, and multiple units responded.
Deputies immediately closed access to the park, and additionally secured the campground section of the park with multiple units. After coordination with State Park Rangers, multiple campers for their safety voluntarily agreed to leave the premises for the evening and Deputies facilitated a secure exit for those campers.
A search of the subject’s car and immediate area near the vehicle to this point have not located the suspect, and the search remains active. Due to the danger involved, the rough terrain, and potential of firearm use, Deputies have closed access to Big Bone State Lick Park and it will remain closed until the search is complete.
Deputies have coordinated with Boone County Emergency Management and area residences have been notified of the incident. Due to darkness and for safety reasons of the Deputies, the search will resume at daylight along with additional resources being available to aid in the search.