More charges in fatal shooting
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
June 17, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/061716_PS_Powell_Indictment-353923
One of the three men charged in a fatal Brickhouse shooting in April is facing six additional charges.
Denzell A. Powell, 23, was indicted last week on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and three counts of first-degree criminal mischief. He pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in McCracken Circuit Court.
Powell was originally charged with murder in the shooting death of Gary Johnson, 46, on April 16 at the Brickhouse, a nightclub on Boyd Street near Lower Town.
The new charges stem from incidents that predate the shooting at the Brickhouse. Commonwealth Attorney Dan Boaz described the earlier incidents as "similarly related," adding they may have led to the fatal shootout.
The indictment stated two of the wanton endangerment charges stem from incidents March 28 and the third charge was the result of an April 9 occurrence.
According to the indictment Powell "wantonly engaged in conduct which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury" to three individuals.
As for the criminal mischief charges, three dates are listed in the indictment: March 28, April 9 and April 14.
On those dates, according to the document, Powell "intentionally or wantonly defaced or damaged" two automobiles and a residence causing at least $1,000 worth of damage to each.
Two other men, Christopher L. Smith, 34, and Tracell D. Nunn, also face charges of murder in the Brickhouse shooting death.
Additionally, Smith and Nunn face charges of attempted murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Nunn is also charged with 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.
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.
The trio is scheduled to next appear on June 24 for pretrial conferences.
Denzell A. Powell, 23, was indicted last week on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and three counts of first-degree criminal mischief. He pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in McCracken Circuit Court.
Powell was originally charged with murder in the shooting death of Gary Johnson, 46, on April 16 at the Brickhouse, a nightclub on Boyd Street near Lower Town.
The new charges stem from incidents that predate the shooting at the Brickhouse. Commonwealth Attorney Dan Boaz described the earlier incidents as "similarly related," adding they may have led to the fatal shootout.
The indictment stated two of the wanton endangerment charges stem from incidents March 28 and the third charge was the result of an April 9 occurrence.
According to the indictment Powell "wantonly engaged in conduct which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury" to three individuals.
As for the criminal mischief charges, three dates are listed in the indictment: March 28, April 9 and April 14.
On those dates, according to the document, Powell "intentionally or wantonly defaced or damaged" two automobiles and a residence causing at least $1,000 worth of damage to each.
Two other men, Christopher L. Smith, 34, and Tracell D. Nunn, also face charges of murder in the Brickhouse shooting death.
Additionally, Smith and Nunn face charges of attempted murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Nunn is also charged with 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.
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.
The trio is scheduled to next appear on June 24 for pretrial conferences.
