The identity of a 15-year-old girl shot and killed in Elizabethtown early Sunday morning has been released.
The Hardin County Coroner’s Office told WDRB.com that the victim was Katen Atwell, who was shot in the chest.
A Breckinridge County man, 21-year-old Bryan P. Harbison, of McDaniels, was arrested in connection with the shooting death. A 15-year-old girl has been charged with Atwell’s murder.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers made contact with Harbison, who was performing CPR on Atwell, according to Elizabethtown police. A second 15-year-old girl was also at the scene.
Atwell was transported to Baptist Health Hardin where she was pronounced deceased.
During the investigation, Harbison told officers he met the juveniles on Snapchat and believed the victim to be 18-years-old.
Before picking up the girls, Harbison purchased alcohol. The three then went to Lowe’s parking lot to hang out and drink, according to the Elizabethtown PD. At the time of the shooting, police said Harbison and Atwell were in the back seat of his truck, while the other female juvenile was in the driver’s seat.
The second female juvenile told police that she “picked up a handgun from inside the vehicle, pointed it at the victim, and pulled the trigger,” striking Atwell in the chest, police said.
“The juvenile suspect and Harbison provided different accounts of how the suspect came into possession of the firearm. The juvenile stated that Harbison had placed the firearm on the center console and told her it was unloaded. Harbison advised the firearm had been secured in his glove compartment and that the suspect removed it without his knowledge,” EPD said in a press release.
The juvenile suspect was charged with murder. She is currently in custody. Police said her name is not being released due to her age.
Harbison was arrested and charged with third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and first-degree wanton endangerment. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash bond.
(Photo: Katen Atwell, courtesy of GoFundMe.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
