From WRIL -
On Sunday night February 2, 2020 just before 7:00pm, Kentucky State Trooper Jake Middleton responded to a report of a shooting in the Kildav community in Harlan County.
According to the citation, once Trooper Middleton arrived on scene he came in contact with 46 year old Jerry Wayne Gilbert Jr, of Kildav, who stated that he had shot his uncle James Gilbert. The injured James Gilbert told the trooper that he, along with an unidentified male, came to the home in order to retrieve firearms inside a safe in the residence.
Jerry Gilbert’s wife Kelly stated that the men arrived in a Chevy Malibu, made contact with her at their bedroom window at the front of the home, and attempted to pull her through the window. She goes on to state that during the confrontation James Gilbert had a gun, pointed it in her direction, and shot into the home.
Jerry Gilbert states that he was lying in bed when the gunshot happened and that he “went to grab his 12 gauge shotgun and shoot back” which he did, also using a .22 caliber rifle. Jerry goes on to say that once he shot at both men they ran from the home back to the car fleeing the scene, but he continued firing at them. He told Trooper Middleton he did that because “he was afraid if he did not kill them they might come back to harm him or his wife.”
Lifeguard EMS personnel, who had arrived prior to the trooper, were treating James Gilbert for serious injuries before he was flown to Johnson City Medical Center. He was said to be in stable condition according to the citation.
Jerry Wayne Gilbert Jr. was arrested and lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and assault 1st degree, he is being held on a $25,000 full cash bond.
No word yet as to whether James Gilbert will be charged for firing into the home but we do know he was arrested on Monday February 3, 2020 for three outstanding failure to appear warrants and non-payment of fines.