Update from WRIL -
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - 3:15PM UPDATE -
Shawn King has been released from custody at the Bell County Detention Center on an unsecured bond. His next court appearance is in June.
We will publish more information as it is released to us by either the Middlesboro Police Department or the court system.
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ORIGINAL COVERAGE
From The Middlesboro Police Department -
The department is investigating an early Sunday morning May 22, 2022 incident involving the discharging of a firearm which occurred inside the Middlesboro Waffle King on Highway 25E at approximately 3:00am. A female bystander was allegedly injured by the gunfire during the incident.
The suspect, 31-year-old Shawn M. King of Middlesboro, was arrested in Claiborne County, Tennessee later Sunday morning and will be facing charges involving assault - 1st degree and seven counts of wanton endangerment - 1st degree for those inside the restaurant at the time of the incident.
After our coverage was publicized, King's sister Crissa Teirra Zachery posted on our social media page that the discharge was "an accident, he shot hisself, the bullet ricochet, and hit the lady. He was in Claiborne county at the hospital seeking help because Middlesboro failed to help him." King is said to have shot himself in the leg.
According to KRS 508.010 "a person is guilty of assault in the first degree when under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another and thereby causes serious physical injury to another person."
King is being held in the Claiborne County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Kentucky.
The woman injured in the incident was taken to Middlesboro ARH for treatment of her injuries.
Middlesboro Police Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson is leading the investigation.