A Johnson County jury found Colton Contant guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison on Tuesday, closing out a case that began with a fatal shooting at a small-town park nearly a year ago. Contant was accused of killing 68-year-old Kenneth Michaels at Coal Hill City Park, and jurors delivered both the verdict and the sentence on the same day after a trial that started just one day earlier.
According to 5NEWS, Contant's trial began Monday, and by Tuesday a jury had convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life in prison. Court documents cited by the station say a gun-use enhancement tacked on an additional 15 years to his sentence. The same report identifies Contant as 26 years old and says he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Michaels' death.
Gunshots Reported at a Quiet Coal Hill Park
The shooting happened on Nov. 11, 2025, when Johnson County dispatch received reports of gunshots and a person down at Coal Hill City Park, per the same account. Police identified the victim as Kenneth E. Michaels, 68, of Clarksville, according to 4029 News, which reported the shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m.
4029 News also reported that a man identified as Colton Contant, 25, of Coal Hill, was seen running away from the scene, and that police found and arrested him about half an hour later. The 5NEWS report on the verdict, by contrast, listed Contant's age as 26 at the time of his arrest and charge. Court documents say Contant was identified as the suspect and taken into custody shortly after, though the two outlets' reporting on his exact age at the time does not match.
What Contant Told Investigators
Per an affidavit cited by 5NEWS, Contant told investigators that he opened the passenger door of Michaels' car and shot him twice after Michaels flinched. That account became part of the evidence presented as the case moved from arrest toward trial.
A Competency Fight Before Trial
Before the case reached a jury, Contant underwent a court-ordered mental fitness examination. The evaluation found that Contant was competent to proceed in his criminal case, according to the Courier News. The evaluation specifically concluded that Contant had the capacity to understand the nature of the charges against him and to assist his attorney in his defense, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial.
With that competency question resolved, the case moved from a first-degree murder charge through pretrial proceedings and ultimately to the jury trial that opened Monday. Tuesday's verdict and sentencing brought that nearly year-long process to a close, with Contant now facing life in prison plus the 15-year enhancement tied to his use of a firearm in the killing.
