UPDATE: ‘Dangerous’ shooting suspect surrenders to W’burg police Tuesday

A Louden man wanted by police for allegedly shooting into his a woman’s vehicle over the weekend turned himself in Tuesday afternoon to Williamsburg police.

Williamsburg Police Detective Bobby Freeman charged Ronnie J. Hamblin, 49, of 261 Wash Place Road, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief.

Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said Hamblin contacted Freeman by phone and after extensive negotiations turned himself in about 12:30 p.m.

He was arrested without incident and after giving a statement to police was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

"Detective Freeman is continuing the investigation and other details will be available in the next couple of days," Jackson said.
About 9 p.m. Saturday, Hamblin allegedly fired three shots with a 9mm pistol into the victim’s vehicle, which was parked outside a residence off South Second Street in Williamsburg, Jackson said.

"We believe that it is domestic related. There is an active EPO out in connection with the same incident on the offender," Jackson said Monday evening. "The victim is very scared and fears for her life and safety and she has very good reason too.

"I think he was intending to damage the vehicle to make a statement to the victim. I think he was aware no one was in the vehicle at the time, but there was significant damage to the vehicle."

Hamblin pleaded guilty May 14, 1996, to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Mary E. Hamilton, who was his wife’s grandmother.

According to Kentucky State Police reports, Hamblin shot Hamilton, 61, as she sat with two friends in a car in front of her Louden Road home about 7 p.m. March 25, 1994. Hamblin was arrested nearly five hours later in the driveway of another Louden Road home.

He received 15 years for the manslaughter charge.

Jackson noted that the 1994 shooting also stemmed from a domestic situation.

Freeman was assisted in the investigation by Chief Wayne Bird, Lt. Jason Caddell, Sgt. Brad Boyd, Jackson, K-9 Officer Brandon Prewitt, Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnny Miller, and Kentucky State Police K-9 Trooper Jason McCowan of the KSP Special Operations Unit.