Williamsburg woman arrested for shooting at two children

Lorie Lee Cornett

A Williamsburg woman is facing felony wanton endangerment charges stemming from allegations last week that she allegedly shot at two children.

About 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 9, Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Taylor, Deputy Jonas Saunders and Kentucky State Police Trooper Richie Baxter responded to Skaggs Branch Road after a caller told 911 that two small children came to her residence saying that Lorie Lee Cornett was trying to kill them and that she was shooting a gun at them and was going to kill them, according to an arrest citation.

The children were reported to be members of her family and in her care, according to a sheriff’s department release.

When Taylor arrived at the reported residence, he came into contact with the suspect, Cornett, 42. When she answered the door, she appeared to be under the influence and was holding a loaded and cocked .22-caliber pistol, according to the release.

Taylor immediately took the gun away from Cornett and handed it to Saunders, according to the arrest citation.

Cornett told police that she had taken prescription medication and had consumed alcoholic beverages, the release noted.

"She admitted she knew nothing about the kids being with her. The mother, Jamie Siler, said she dropped the kids off to her earlier that day on Aug. 9 because her father was in U.T. Hospital," Taylor wrote on the citation.

The two children were placed into the custody of a family member. 

Taylor arrested Cornett about 12:56 a.m. on Aug. 10 and charged her with first-degree wanton endangerment, public intoxication and first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer.

She was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center but released on a $7,500 surety bond about 12 hours later.