Zachary Douglas Back, 26, was fatally shot the evening of November 6, 2020, at a residence on KY-588 in Blackey, Kentucky. Kentucky State Police found him deceased from a single gunshot wound after a call shortly before 9:00 P.M. The shooting followed a day-long verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation.

Investigators identified 37-year-old Chad Bolling as the alleged shooter; he was located at a nearby home and arrested. Bolling is Zachary’s former stepfather and was charged with murder and first-degree wanton endangerment. Police reports state Zachary was unarmed; Bolling claimed self-defense. The wanton endangerment count relates to the victim’s mother, Jessica Bolling, who was nearby when the shooting occurred.

Detective Eric Caldwell of the Kentucky State Police led the investigation into what remains a deeply troubling family tragedy. If anyone has information about the events of November 6, 2020, in Blackey, please share what is known.