HARTFORD, KENTUCKY – A man was hospitalized with a gunshot wound early Saturday morning after being shot by the homeowner during an attempted break-in. Authorities responded to the 3200 block of Livermore Road in Hartford after receiving a call reporting an unknown person attempting to unlawfully enter a residence.
It was just after 4:00 a.m. when the man, later identified by officials as Joe Davis Snooks III, of Paducah, attempted to enter the residence. The homeowner, acting in self-defense to protect himself and his family, fired a single round from his handgun. Snooks was wounded in the right knee.
Snooks was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He faces burglary charges, and investigators are still working to determine if additional charges will be added. Speaking about the incident, Ohio County Sheriff Tracy Beatty said, “At the time of the incident the suspect appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance.”
Not surprisingly, according to Kentucky Department of Corrections records, Snooks was convicted in Warren County in April 2016 for manufacturing methamphetamine, third-degree burglary, and first-degree criminal mischief. He was sentenced to a combined 25 years, and while the records do not show actual time served, it appears that it was just over 4 years. Records indicate that his supervision (probation) period began on July 28, 2020 and was scheduled to end on April 26, 2031. We’re guessing that date may be extended…but then again, in our current justice system of catch and release, maybe not.
Kentucky is a “Castle Doctrine” and “Stand Your Ground” state, which gives citizens the legal right to defend themselves and others from anyone who is attempting to illegally enter a space occupied by someone who has a legal right to be there. There is no duty to retreat to escape the threat; instead, the legally armed citizen is authorized to use lethal force in stopping the intruder or aggressor, and in this case it appears that he homeowner would have been justified in using deadly force to stop Mr. Snooks.
