FAR MIDDLE FORK, KENTUCKY – A home intruder was fatally shot after threatening the residents of the home. Magoffin County 911 received a call reporting a shooting at a mobile home on KY Rt. 378 near the Magoffin / Breathitt county line.
Kentucky State Police who arrived on scene found a male suffering a gunshot wound. The man, identified as Bradley Johnson, 28, of Olive Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Magoffin County Coroner’s Office.
According to authorities, Johnson was unlawfully inside the residence of Lyndon Holland. After forcing entry, he demanded their belongings and money and there was an altercation when the suspect assaulted the homeowner, including punching him in the face.
The homeowner then fired a shot into the air from a Ruger .22 and asked the suspect to leave the property. The suspect then grabbed a hammer and threatened the homeowner. Fearing for his life, Holland fired multiple shots at Johnson. One bullet struck him in the chest and proved fatal.
Johnson’s body was sent to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy and toxicology report. He had several prior arrests, including DUI on January 2nd of this year, a probation violation in 2017, and two in 2016, including manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Johnson’s mother told the coroner’s office her son had a history of drug addiction and has been in and out of jail for multiple reasons. She also stated that her other son, Nicholas Stephens, died of a gunshot wound a few years ago in an incident that was listed as an accident.
The investigation is continuing and will be presented to the Magoffin County Grand Jury for consideration. No charges have been filed at this time and the incident is being handled as a self-defense case.
