What began as a Kentucky mother’s 21st birthday celebration for her son quickly turned tragic in Florence, Ky., on Saturday, according to the Florence Police Department.

Four people were killed and three more injured, according to reports. Accused shooter Chase Garvey is also deceased.

The shooting in Florence is the 20th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today.

Kentucky shooting: A ‘beautiful soul’ — Sister mourns Shane Miller, killed in Florence mass shooting

Here’s what you need to know:

Florence, Ky. shooting: What we know about Saturday, July 6

Florence Police Department Chief Jeff Mallery described the scene in Kentucky, nearly 90 miles northeast of Louisville and 11 miles south of Cincinnati.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, July 6 in Florence, Ky. Multiple victims were discovered at a 21st birthday party at the residence of Melissa Parrett, who was among the deceased, according to Mallery.

Partygoers informed officers that the suspected shooter was 21-year-old Chase Garvey, and he had fled the scene.

An officer joined by a Boone County Sheriff’s officer located the vehicle and attempted to stop Garvey, but he once again fled the scene. According to police, Garvey then shot himself and crashed the vehicle, dying from his injuries at an area hospital.  

Police believe Garvey was acting alone and currently have no known motivation for the shootings.

Police weren’t initially aware of any connections to partygoers and don’t believe Garvey was an invited guest. However, Paris Miller — the sister of victim Shane Miller — told media that another victim, Delaney Eary, was Garvey’s ex-girlfriend.

“This is the first time we’ve had a mass shooting in Florence, so it is very emotional,” Mallery said. “And my emotions are for the victims and families, the officers that responded and everybody that was touched by this situation.” 

“Our officers aren’t much older than the victims,” he said. “So as far as the department and the city will do a debriefing with all the officers that responded and offer any assistance to talk with peer support or medical assistance or anything like that.”  

2024 Kentucky shooting deaths at Florence birthday party

The Florence Police Department provided a list of deceased victims from the mass shooting on Saturday, July 6:

• Melissa Parrett, 44, from Florence, Kentucky.
• Shane Miller, 20, from Florence, Kentucky.
• Hayden Rybicki, 20, from Elsmere, Kentucky. 
• Delaney Eary, 19, from Burlington, Kentucky.

Miller had this to say about her brother and Eary.

“I want them to all know how loving and caring (Shane) was, how much he loved everybody close to him,” Paris Miller said.

As for Eary: “She always had the brightest, biggest smile, just like Shane.”

How are the other Florence, Ky., shooting victims?

The three other shooting victims were transported to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati and in stable condition. Police said the victims are expected to make a full recovery.

Who was Florence, Ky., accused shooter Chase Garvey?

Garvey was a convicted felon, according to Mallery.

Kenton County records reveal Garvey — who was 18 at the time — was arrested and charged in 2021 in the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Court records show in April 2023 that Garvey was issued 5 years of probation after pleading guilty to a felony — an unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree.

What is a mass shooting?

Law enforcement tends to view the term “mass shooting” differently than the general public or gun violence groups.

The FBI considers an event to be a mass shooting “when one or more people engage in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” Shootings motivated by gang violence, drug violence, domestic disputes or hostage situations are excluded, as well as shootings resulting from another criminal act, such as a bank robbery.

The gun violence prevention organization Everytown For Gun Safety tracks shootings across the U.S. The organization’s definition of a mass shooting is an event where four or more people are killed, excluding the shooter. The group added that: “research and news coverage of these tragic events has expanded greatly, but the question of how to best define a mass shooting remains unsettled.”

Are mass shootings on the rise in the U.S.?

Mass shootings were in a slight decline as of 2022. There were 50 incidents determined to be mass shootings by the FBI in 2022, marking a drop from the 61 occurrences logged in 2021, according to the National Criminal Justice Association.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

OAK GROVE, Ky. — In just the second start of her harness racing career, Skywalker Sea (Downbytheseaside) paced the fastest mile ever for 2-year-old pacing fillies over the Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel oval in winning her division’s lone $40,000 dash of Kentucky Sire Stakes on a jam-packed Sunday (July 7) card.

Leaving from post 7, driver Yannick Gingras found a snug seat for Skywalker Sea in fourth to a :27 first quarter set by Hip Shot (driven by Scott Zeron). Gingras stayed put through a :57 half before lifting his charge into action up the backside with a first-over push after Hip Shot. Skywalker Sea seized the lead to three-quarters in 1:24.1 and strode in under a hand drive to register a 2-1/2-length win over Hip Shot in 1:52. Accede (Dexter Dunn) gave chase off a ground-saving trip in third and Karma (Andy Miller) finished fourth.

Skywalker Sea stayed unbeaten from two starts for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC and trainer Todd Luther. Her 1:52 effort lowered the previous mark for 2-year-old pacing fillies set by Calgary two years ago by three-fifths of a second. Skywalker Sea returned $2.78 for the win.

SKYWALKER SEA REPLAY

Just a single division of KYSS also went postward for the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings and the 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The male sophomore trot opened the card and saw Mister Dad (Father Patrick, Dexter Dunn, 1:55 winning time; $7 to win) find a seam in the final yards off a pocket trip to grab a nose win over tempo-setting Lindy’s Coyotito (Andy Miller) and fast-closing Memorynimagination (Scott Zeron). Anette Lorentzon trains Mister Dad for owners Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing.

The lone KYSS split for male pacing freshmen wrapped the Sunday card and went to Lew Hauber (Sweet Lou, Dexter Dunn, 1:54; $9.56) off an enterprising pocket ride to punch up and get a neck win over hard-charging Got Bourbon (Todd McCarthy). Ron Burke trains the winning colt for owner-breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Jack Piatt II.

Freshman trotting fillies sparred in three $40,000 KYSS divisions on the Sunday card. Both Voguish (Gimpanzee, Yannick Gingras, 1:55.4; $4.36) and Yo Tillie (Tactical Landing, Verlin Yoder, 1:55.4; $8.62) tied for fastest miles of their division with different trips to boot. Voguish carved the mile as the even-money choice while Yo Tillie powered off a pocket ride to best odds-on choice Stacking Green (Yannick Gingras). Andrew Harris trains Voguish, who debuted a winner for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris, while Verlin Yoder owns and trains Yo Tillie. The third KYSS split for 2-year-old trotting fillies went to Steve Carter trainee Divine Thing (Peter Wrenn, 1:56; $4.40) after she powered first over through the first quarter to the lead and held firm on the point to the finish.

Memento Mori (Chapter Seven, Scott Zeron, 1:56.2; $2.46) made amends for his runner-up debut and led from pillar to post to win in the faster of the two KYSS divisions for freshman trotting colts and geldings. Eric Pataln trains the gelding, who fended off a late surge from Bank On Me (Todd McCarthy) in the stretch, for owners Thestable Memento Mori and Hutchison Harness LLC. Shoe Shine Willie (Dexter Dunn, 1:57.4; $10.70) stayed flat and inherited an open lane on the turn for home to stay on the straight and narrow and win in the other division for trainer Bill Cottongim.

Arson (Captaintreacherous, Scott Zeron, 1:50.1; $6.58) converted a pocket trip to a win in the faster of the two KYSS splits for sophomore pacing males, downing tempo-setter Dancin Champion (Yannick Gingras) in the final strides to win. Eric Patalan trains the colt for owners Thestable Arson Group and Hutchison Harness. Copperfield (Marcus Miller, 1:51.2; $78.82) landed a huge upset as the longest shot on the board in the other division, collaring late-leader Swaggy Cal (Dexter Dunn) in the closing strides for the win.

Per Engblom pupil Bath Bomb (Lather Up, Yannick Gingras, 1:50.2; $3.94) circled to the lead past the quarter and motored down the road to record the faster mile of the two KYSS divisions for sophomore pacing fillies. The daughter of Lather Up, who competes for owner Morrison Racing Stables, easily waded the center-track rally from Defining Moment (Scott Zeron) to hold the win by 1-3/4 lengths. Viki Hill (Dexter Dunn, 1:52.3; $5.20) survived an uncovered bid through the first three-eighths of the mile in the other division to hold victory by a half-length over room-seeking Seeuontheotherside (Marvin Luna).

Black Velvet As (Archangel, Marvin Luna, 1:53.3; $9.36) took top honors from the three KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies when she muscled first over to a 3-1/2-length win over pocket-sitter Local Honey (Todd McCarthy). Anette Lorentzon trains her for owner ACL Stuteri AB. Stella Volo (Dexter Dunn, 1:53.4; $5.16) and Woman Of Passion (Scott Zeron, 1:54; $2.20) later bested their rivals on the lead to win in the other divisions.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday (July 8) with a 12-race card starting at 3 p.m. (CDT). Monday’s card will feature a carryover into the Early Pick 4, starting in Race 3, worth $849.96. Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Oak Grove Racing 

Why Kentucky Will POP in 2024

A busy recruiting weekend wrapped up on Sunday in college football. Kentucky’s class of 2025 currently sits at 17 commitments and is ranked No. 20 overall. With talking season starting this week, the Wildcats will now start to enter training camp mode heading into another football season, but there is still one more announcement on the horizon.

Louisville (Ky.) Male center Isaac “Spike” Sowells Jr. has a commitment announcement planned for Thursday, July 18. That is the same day that Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is scheduled to take the podium at SEC Media Days in Dallas. Will the Wildcats get to 18 commitments before heading to fall camp?

Kentucky currently has four offensive linemen in the fold with three true tackle prospects and one guard prospect. Paw Paw (Mich.) High senior Darrin Strey is the highest-ranked recruit of the bunch. Spike Sowells could become the second-highest rated in Kentucky’s offensive line class. The in-state prospect was in Lexington for his official visit the same weekend Strey committed to offensive line coach Eric Wolford.

The high three-star prospect took official visits in June to South Carolina, Kentucky, Miami, and NC State. Dave Doeren‘s Wolfpack have emerged as the top contender for the in-state prospect in this recruitment. NC State has some real buzz heading into the decision. Can Vince Marrow and the Kentucky coaching staff close on Spike Sowells over the next 10 days?

We will find out soon.

Expect recruiting to slow down after the decision until the games begin in September. Most of the work on the trail in the class of 2025 has been completed. Kentucky is waiting for one more big announcement before season prep gets off and running in the Bluegrass.

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