Earl Morrison Coffey, 86, a Columbia, Kentucky resident and U.S. Army veteran active in the Adair County Cattlemen’s Association, was shot and killed at his home on Old Montpelier Road on March 23, 2024. The shooting occurred on a Saturday morning when Joseph South, 57, who reportedly was being evicted from a property rented from Coffey, arrived at the residence and allegedly fired multiple rounds into the house. Four other people were inside at the time; Coffey sustained fatal injuries.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office detained South at the scene and, after an investigation by the Kentucky State Police, charged him with one count of murder and four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. South was lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail and the case remains pending. Coffey was remembered as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

If anyone has information about the events that morning or knew Earl Coffey, please share what you know.