A man running for judge-executive in an eastern Kentucky county, and who was formerly a school district superintendent, has been arrested following a shooting.
Carter Whitaker, 68, of Magoffin County, was arrested Tuesday morning after police were dispatched to his residence at approximately 3:00 a.m. and found that Whitaker had shot Christopher Barnett in the chest.
Barnett was transported to a local hospital.
Witnesses told police that Whitaker and Barnett were acquaintances who often argued, the arrest citation states, according to multiple news outlets. Police also said that witnesses indicated that Whitaker had a lot to drink during the hours preceding the shooting.
Whitaker is a GOP candidate for Magoffin County judge-executive and served as superintendent of Magoffin County Schools in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
His tenure as superintendent, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, was “marked by allegations of nepotism … using political influence to punish foes, improper spending and other wrongdoing. He resigned as superintendent in 1993 after the Kentucky Department of Education started an effort to remove him.”
Whitaker was charged with first-degree assault and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. He is no longer listed as an inmate at the facility. He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charge.
Kentucky State Police is investigating.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
