Update: Murder suspect commits suicide

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies say a suspect in a fatal shooting committed suicide when he was confronted last Wednesday afternoon near Laurel Lake.

The suspect has been identified as Kenneth W. Lipscomb, 55, of London, who reportedly killed himself following a pursuit along Flatwoods Road off of Level Green Road.

Lipscomb became a person of interest to law enforcement after officers discovered a body at his residence on Hunters Trace, approximately one-half mile west of London off of Ky. 192 at approximately 5 p.m. Officers went to the residenece after receiving a phone tip on the possible whereabouts of a missing person and conducted a welfare check.

Law enforcement identified the deceased as 22-year-old Jared Clint Lipscomb, whom they said was Kenneth Lipscomb’s son.

“They both lived at the house,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer.

Law enforcement put out a notice to be on the lookout for a white colored Ford F–150 pickup truck with a camper shell

Deputies, along with Kentucky State Police and U.S. Forest Service officers responded to the area.

“He owns property there off of Flatwoods Road,” said Acciardo when asked why they searched that area.

Deputies located the truck traveling away from the lake, turned on the vehicle and initiated the pursuit, which Acciardo stated lasted approximately one-half a mile.

The vehicle left the roadway and Deputy Jake Miller along with Trooper Christ Saunders and U.S. Forest Service Officer Bob O’Neill approached it in an effort to apprehend the driver.

“Before officers could get to the driver’s door, Kenneth Lipscomb shot himself in the chest with a .45-caliber pistol,” Acciardo stated.

Kenneth Lipscomb was taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Corbin where he was later pronounced dead.

Acciardo said Jared Lipscomb had died at the residence several days prior to the discovery.

The cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot wound to the chest from a .45-caliber weapon.

‘We are awaiting ballistics test to determine whether the weapon recovered was the same weapon used to kill Jared Lipscomb,” Acciardo said adding that it may be weeks or even months before the results are known.

“We still have an open, active murder investigation until that comes back,” he said.

Sheriff John Root offered his thanks to area citizens for their tips and information that contributed to the investigation.