The Grayson County Middle School sixth grade orchestra had performed at John Hardin High School prior to a deadly, police-involved shooting that occurred behind the school on Wednesday afternoon.
Grayson County Schools Music Director Adam French confirmed the sixth grade orchestra had left John Hardin High School before the shooting, and the Grayson County High School concert orchestra was eating lunch at a different location, prior to arriving at the school, when the shooting occurred.
The orchestras, along with the Grayson County High School Band, were slated to perform at John Hardin for the annual Kentucky Music Educators Association event. The high school orchestra and high school band performances were canceled. French said no make-up date has been announced.
According to Kentucky State Police spokesman Jeff Gregory, police from multiple law enforcement agencies shot and killed 51-year-old Jesse Kilgus, of Elizabethtown, at about 1:00 eastern time behind John Hardin, located just off Hwy 31-W between Elizabethtown and Radcliff.
The situation began when law enforcement was dispatched to a domestic disturbance on Wise Lane, not far from Towne Mall, at about 12:40 Wednesday afternoon. That’s where police found the lifeless body of 46-year-old Ruth Marie Kilgus.
At some point after allegedly killing Ruth Kilgus, Jesse Kilgus made a reference to a juvenile at John Hardin High School. Authorities contacted the school, resulting in John Hardin and nearby New Highland Elementary and Bluegrass Middle Schools being placed on lock-down.
At about 12:53, officers made contact with Kilgus behind John Hardin, and after about seven minutes of negotiations, several shots were fired by multiple law enforcement agencies when Kilgus pointed a weapon at police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The juvenile mentioned by Jesse Kigus was confirmed by a Hardin County Schools spokesman to be Jesse and Ruth Kilgus’ son, according to multiple media reports.
Neither students nor staff from the three nearby schools were injured.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
