Fun gun safety event planned at noon Saturday at Kentucky Splash

In the wake of the shooting death of a two-year-old by a three-year-old last month in Whitley County, a group of local agencies are holding an event Saturday in Williamsburg in an effort to increase gun safety, and provide some fun activities for local youngsters.

The Department of Community Based-Services (DCBS) will be holding its first ever Gun Safety Halloween Event from noon – 2 p.m. at the Kentucky Splash waterpark. Organizers are hoping to make it an annual event.

“DCBS would like to invite the community to an educational event on gun safety. This will be a free event where we will have local speakers from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Corbin Police Department, McCreary federal prison, Judge Cathy Prewitt and Mayor Roddy Harrison. After presentations, we will have a trick or treating event provided by our community partners,” DCBS wrote on an event flier.

The event will also include face painting, a photo booth, and door prizes.

On Sept. 7, two-year-old Milo Brooks died after a three-year-old gained access to a firearm that had been left unattended and shot him to death, according to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.

The shooting occurred at a home on Martins Drive, just inside the Whitley County line near the KY312 bridge.

It is not yet known if any criminal charges will be filed in the case, according to Whitley County Sheriff Bill Elliotte, who said that he will be consulting with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Bowling once the investigation is complete.

“I will meet with him and we’ll go over it and he’ll make a decision on what to do,” said Elliotte. “He actually came to the scene, so he’s familiar with it.”