A second person was arrested in connection to a Sept. 28 shooting that took place near the 1500 block of Chestnut Street. This comes as the Bowling Green Police Department has continued to investigate the shooting.

Police arrested 18-year-old Tanner May on Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to a press release posted on the BGPD Facebook page.

“May is accused of firing multiple rounds from a semi-automatic rifle, with most of the shots striking a nearby house not related to the disturbance,” the press release states.

This follows an arrest made over the weekend of a 17-year-old who was also involved in the incident. 

BGPD believes the shooting was the result of a dispute between two groups known to each other, according to the press release sent at the time of the first arrest.

BGPD continues to search for others involved in the shooting. Those with any information are encouraged to call the agency at 270-393-4000.

Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

The panelists included Assistant Chief Jason Scott of the Bowling Green Police Department, Agent Micheal Johnson from Homeland Security Investigations, Chief Deputy Kevin Wiles of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Agent Jamie Gordon from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Chief Mitchell Walker from the Western Kentucky University Police Department. 

The discussion included topics such as the role of their agencies, advice for aspiring law enforcement professionals, education and training experiences and the perception of law enforcement in the media.

“There are many other job functions within any law enforcement agency,” Johnson said to attendees,  “So computer forensics, intel analysis, there’s a whole plethora of other job functions that go with the law enforcement investigations side.” 

Gordon and Johnson emphasized the importance of honesty and awareness when posting on social media. 

“Social media is a big downfall for us, as far as new recruits,” Gordon said, “That is one of the things a lot of students get jammed up halfway through the academy from social media, so be careful with that. It does come back on everybody.” 

The panelists also discussed how their different agencies are affected by the media. 

Scott and Walker talked about the appreciation they receive and their positive relationship with the Bowling Green community and local media. 

“We have an excellent relationship with our local news outlets. I can’t think of too many, if any, negative stories that have been made against the Bowling Green police,” Scott said, “I like to think that we have a very good name in the community, and that’s echoed in the interactions that were having with people when we’re out to just normal calls.”

Scott asked students to do their own research about topics including law enforcement in the media. 

“Anything you see in the media always, whether a big case or its against an officer, I challenge you to try and do some independent research first before you jump to conclusions,” said Scott. 

The discussion ended with a segment open for students to ask any questions they may have for the panelists. 

When asked a question about how to refrain from letting their job affect their personal life, Gordon responded with “It’s a challenge.” 

Wiles highlighted some common struggles that people might face while working in law enforcement and shared how he copes. 

“Alcoholism is a problem in law enforcement and you have a lot of divorces, so I do think it’s something to be aware of if you’re going into this field,” said Wiles, “For me, it’s running. I love to run, so I run just about every day. It helps with my mental health.” 

The event concluded with a reminder from panelists of available internships for students with a passion for law enforcement and that students can contact their offices if interested. 

News Reporter Libby Simpson can be reached at elizabeth.simpson736@topper.wku.edu.

A 17-year-old was arrested following a shooting in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Multiple houses were struck by gunfire in the shooting, according to a press release posted to Facebook by the Bowling Green Police Department.

“We believe this shooting occurred as the result of a dispute between two groups known to each other,” the press release stated.

The individual was arrested following a review of video surveillance, the press release said. BGPD has identified others involved in the shooting, and additional charges may be filed.

Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

Zink, a local resident and owner of the car, agreed to restyle the vehicle on Aug. 23 with the WKUPD decals and stripes as a contribution to the police department.

Zink and WKUPD Chief Mitchell Walker devised the collaboration, having known each other since September 2020. 

“I reached out to Sarah because I knew she had a connection with Corvette and to see if there was something we could do with them to promote our police department and WKU,” Walker said.

Walker said WKUPD plans to use the vehicle for WKU football escorts and possibly events for recruiting police officers and students to the university.

After modifying the vehicle with the decals, Zink said she took the restyled Corvette to the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park on Aug. 24 and 25 for a spin on the track. This occurred during the park’s High Performance Driving Event.

The car’s most recent appearance in the Bowling Green area took place on Sept. 7 during the WKU home football game against rival Eastern Kentucky University, according to Walker. 

While the Corvette is not on the track or in official law enforcement usage, the decals must be taped over. According to Walker, it is both illegal and a safety issue for the decals to be visible while not in use by police. 

Zink’s main concern was not her own safety.

“I don’t want anyone to ask for my help and I can’t help them,” Zink said.

Zink said her position as a law enforcement chaplain at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department influenced her relationship with the police.

Zink is the president of Phoenix Rising, which aims to assist youth impacted by sex trafficking, according to the website. She is also a former president of Adopt a Golden Nashville and fosters through the organization.

“I don’t have kids, so this is my way of giving back,” Zink said. 

If those in the WKU community want to see the car, they can expect it at upcoming home football games and potentially at WKUPD recruitment events, according to Walker.

Until then, it will be in Zink’s garage, if not out on the track.

News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at kane.smith490@topper.wku.edu.

The Bowling Green Police Department announced Saturday morning that Malcolm Jones was taken into custody in Atlanta by the U.S. Marshals Service and faces murder charges. 

Two other suspects, Jones’s twin brother Malik Jones and Kobee Lancaster, were arrested in July 2023 and have now been charged in the death of Morgan. Jones and Lancaster were given a trial date of Jan. 15, 2025, according to a report by WBKO.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453@topper.wku.edu. 

The agencies involved include the Bowling Green Police Department, KSP Post 3, WKUPD and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The joint operation is ongoing and will continue throughout the month as it runs in conjunction with the Department of Highway Safety’s traffic enforcement campaigns, KSP Trooper Katan Parker said on Tuesday.

The joint operation will focus on:

• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Reckless driving
• Seat belt violations
• Speeding

The operation is intended to get the community “under control” and to show the city that the law enforcement agencies are taking their jobs seriously, Parker said.

“We just want to make the community a safer place,” he said.

According to a KSP press release on July 15, from March to June, there were over 60 collisions and 180 traffic citations issued on Scottsville Road.

The release stated that during this same time period on Nashville Road, south of I-165, there were 47 collisions and over 120 citations issued.

Given these high rates of violations, the operation is currently focusing on Nashville and Scottsville roads.

However, already established routes will not be affected, Parker said. Certain units are assigned to the operation at any given time, he said, and they coordinate among each other to determine who will be covering which area.

WKUPD Chief Mitchell Walker said this operation is just another opportunity to work with the other agencies for the betterment of the community.

“I think that anytime we can work together and train together in our communities to solve problems is a benefit to our communities,” Walker said on Wednesday.

This operation is also important for all of the officers in each agency, Walker said, because they can learn from each other and use each other’s resources.

“It’s certainly a benefit to continue to foster those relationships into the future,” Walker said.

Since the number of violations surrounding campus has slowed down during the summer months, Walker said that WKUPD will be aiding the other agencies in patrolling either Nashville or Scottsville roads, alleviating any strain that might be on one department.

News reporter Cameron Shaw can be reached at cameron.shaw555@topper.wku.edu. 

Malik Jones and Kobee Lancaster were both arrested in July 2023 for their alleged involvement in the homicide of 21-year-old WKU student Ayanna Morgan.

Morgan was shot at the Muse apartment complex on Sunday, July 23. She was transported to an area hospital before being airlifted to a Nashville trauma center where she passed away.

According to WBKO, Jones and Lancaster appeared for pretrial conferences Monday morning and will have one final pretrial conference on Sept. 16. 

Attorneys said that there is still additional evidence to examine: body camera footage of an interview conducted at the hospital where Morgan died, WBKO said.

The Bowling Green Police Department is still searching for Jones’ twin brother, Malcolm. Those with information on his whereabouts are asked to contact BGPD at (270) 393-4000.

News reporter Cameron Shaw can be reached at cameron.shaw555@topper.wku.edu.

According to Walker, a female was approached by Davaugn Johnson, a WKU student, by the greenhouse behind Snell Hall. Following a conversation with Johnson, the victim, a former WKU student, attempted to leave and struggled to get away from Johnson. The victim and the suspect did not know one another, Walker said.

Following the incident, the victim fled to Midtown Apartments, where she called the police. WKUPD arrested Johnson shortly after at Cherry Hall. Johnson has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault. The victim suffered minor injuries and did not seek medical attention, Walker said.

Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

Donovan Jordan, 23 of Bowling Green, was taken into custody by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on I-40 in Tennessee and charged with assault, first degree. Jordan is being held in the Henderson County Jail in Tennessee and awaiting extradition, according to a news release posted on the BGPD Facebook page.

Kylien Baker and Devin Miles, both WKU students, were shot in the incident Tuesday night and taken to regional hospitals.

According to the police report, Jordan and Baker got into an argument in the Muse BG parking lot. Miles heard the dispute and went outside to confront Jordan, the report said, and Jordan then shot Baker and Miles. 

Jordan fled before police arrived, the report said.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected, according to the Facebook post.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453@topper.wku.edu 

Last updated Wednesday, May 1, at 10:56 a.m.

Two males were injured and transported to regional hospitals due to a shooting that occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Muse BG apartments Tuesday evening.

Ronnie Ward, public information officer for the Bowling Green Police Department, said the shooting was targeted. An investigation is ongoing and detectives are attempting to locate any video evidence or witnesses.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call BGPD at 270-393-4000.

In July, the Muse was the scene of a shooting that killed a WKU student.

Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn can be reached at edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453@topper.wku.edu.