Fatal shooting suspects plead not guilty
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
May 13, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/News/local/051316_PS_Brickhouse_Arraignments-103925
Three men accused in a fatal shooting last month at a local nightclub entered pleas of not guilty Thursday in McCracken Circuit Court.
Denzell A. Powell, 23, Christopher L. Smith, 34, and Tracell D. Nunn, 27, are each charged with murder in the shooting death of Gary Johnson, 46, on April 16 at the Brickhouse on Boyd Street near Lower Town.
Smith and Nunn also are charged with attempted murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Nunn faces an additional charge for being a persistent felony offender.
The attempted murder charges stem from Smith and Nunn shooting at Powell with the intent to kill him, according to the McCracken grand jury indictment.
The trio is scheduled to next appear on June 24 for a pretrial conference.
Paducah police responded to the Brickhouse about 12:45 a.m. on April 16. When they arrived, officers said they found Johnson lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. He later died at Baptist Health Paducah.
Detectives said witnesses stated several people were shooting when Johnson was struck. Johnson was not involved in the shooting, but was standing in the line of fire, police said.
Officials said Powell was quickly identified as a suspect, and was arrested several hours later on a warrant charging him with first-degree wanton endangerment. The charge was changed to murder after Johnson's death.
While interviewing Powell, detectives said he admitted to firing a handgun, but said he was shooting at two men who were shooting at him.
The two other men, detectives said, were identified as Smith and Nunn.
Smith was arrested on a warrant initially charging him with first-degree wanton endangerment, police said. His charges also were altered after Johnson's death.
Nunn was located in Louisville earlier this week. He was arrested Monday night by Louisville authorities after he allegedly shot at police officers following a traffic stop.
Nunn faces additional charges of attempted murder of a police officer and possession of marijuana in Louisville.
Denzell A. Powell, 23, Christopher L. Smith, 34, and Tracell D. Nunn, 27, are each charged with murder in the shooting death of Gary Johnson, 46, on April 16 at the Brickhouse on Boyd Street near Lower Town.
Smith and Nunn also are charged with attempted murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Nunn faces an additional charge for being a persistent felony offender.
The attempted murder charges stem from Smith and Nunn shooting at Powell with the intent to kill him, according to the McCracken grand jury indictment.
The trio is scheduled to next appear on June 24 for a pretrial conference.
Paducah police responded to the Brickhouse about 12:45 a.m. on April 16. When they arrived, officers said they found Johnson lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. He later died at Baptist Health Paducah.
Detectives said witnesses stated several people were shooting when Johnson was struck. Johnson was not involved in the shooting, but was standing in the line of fire, police said.
Officials said Powell was quickly identified as a suspect, and was arrested several hours later on a warrant charging him with first-degree wanton endangerment. The charge was changed to murder after Johnson's death.
While interviewing Powell, detectives said he admitted to firing a handgun, but said he was shooting at two men who were shooting at him.
The two other men, detectives said, were identified as Smith and Nunn.
Smith was arrested on a warrant initially charging him with first-degree wanton endangerment, police said. His charges also were altered after Johnson's death.
Nunn was located in Louisville earlier this week. He was arrested Monday night by Louisville authorities after he allegedly shot at police officers following a traffic stop.
Nunn faces additional charges of attempted murder of a police officer and possession of marijuana in Louisville.
