Monticello man accused of fatally shooting man with shotgun after feud

MONTICELLO, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) —A man has died after a Tuesday morning shooting in Wayne County.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) Trooper Scottie Pennington said it happened around 11:26 a.m. on R. Barnett Road.

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Troopers said they found 75-year-old Samuel White lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound. Initial investigations showed that White and Willard Upchurch, 66, were arguing at a logging yard. Tensions escalated and Upchurch reportedly pulled out a gun and shot White.

According to an arrest citation, David Dobbs called the police after Upchurch asked where White was and said he was going to kill him. During their interaction, Dobbs said he tried to de-escalate the situation but left when Willard started waving his gun around.

Dobbs told the police that he heard a gunshot and saw White falling to the ground with Willard beside him with a shotgun in hand.

He was declared dead by the Wayne County coroner, according to KSP.

Troopers said they later found Upchurch at a cabin with his shotgun hidden in an outbuilding near his vehicle. He was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center.

The citation said Willard told the police that “as far as he was concerned, it was one less thief” to deal with in an interview. The pair had a long-known history of feuding over property and timber.

Pennington said the shooting is unrelated to the I-75 shooting investigation and search for Joseph Couch.

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