A 58-year-old man was fighting for his life Sunday after being shot multiple times at a home on Rocky Hill Road near Smiths Grove, Kentucky, in what investigators say began as an argument between two men. James Kevin Marr suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and legs and was flown to a hospital across state lines for emergency surgery, according to police.
Kentucky State Police received a call about a shooting in the 1300 block of Rocky Hill Road just after 6 p.m. Saturday, as reported by WZTV. Troopers arriving at the scene found Marr suffering from the gunshot wounds and had him flown to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, where he remained in critical condition as of Sunday's report. The shooting reportedly stemmed from a disagreement between two men before Marr was shot, according to The Edmonson Voice, which relayed details from Kentucky State Police.
Detective Aaron Hampton of Kentucky State Police Post 3 is leading the investigation, the outlet reported. Police said a suspect is being questioned, and while no charges have been announced, authorities maintain the suspect poses no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation remains active, and the exact circumstances that led to the argument escalating into gunfire have not been detailed publicly.
Why Marr Was Flown Across State Lines
The decision to airlift Marr south to Nashville reflects the rural geography of the shooting scene. Smiths Grove, sitting near the Warren and Edmonson County line, is a small home-rule city with an estimated population of just 868 residents, per the U.S. Census Bureau. TriStar Skyline Medical Center received full state designation as a Level I Trauma Center in September 2024; TriStar Health says the hospital serves Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky, according to TriStar Health. The 353-bed Nashville campus treats more than 60,000 emergency department patients a year, per HCA Healthcare's graduate medical education program. Marr was transported there by air ambulance.
A Road With a Violent Past
Other reports have also described gunfire in the region. K105 has reported on a pursuit that ended in a fatal police shooting, according to K105. Kentucky State Police Post 3 is leading the investigation. Other high-profile gun violence in recent years has included a shootout that sparked a multi-state manhunt on rural Warren County roads in April 2024.
Potential Charges Ahead
If investigators move forward with charges, Kentucky law would determine the appropriate offense and sentence. The available reports do not state whether charges have been filed or whether the suspect's identity has been publicly released.
Kentucky State Police are investigating the Rocky Hill Road shooting. The available reports do not provide a further update on Marr's condition following surgery at TriStar Skyline. KSP Post 3 has not released further updates since confirming the investigation is ongoing.
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