Four dead and three injured in shooting at birthday party; suspected shooter dead after chase

By Mark Maynard
Kentucky today

A mass shooting in northern Kentucky left four people dead and three others injured. The suspected gunman led a chase with police before turning the gun on himself.

Police responded to a 911 call about a shooting at a home in Florence just before 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

When police arrived, they found seven adults with gunshot wounds.

Four of the victims were reportedly pronounced dead at the scene. One of the victims was hosting a birthday party for her son at her Ridgecrest Drive home.

The three injured victims were taken for treatment and are in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

During a press conference, Police Chief Jeff Mallery said 21-year-old Chase Garvey of Florence is the suspect in the shooting during a 21st birthday party at a private residence.

The four dead were identified as: Melissa Parrett, 44, of Florence, Shane Miller, 20, of Florence, Hayden Rybicki, 20, of Elsmere and Delaney Eary, 19, of Burlington.

According to police, Garvey fled the scene in the car and officers began a chase that ended when the suspect drove his vehicle into a ditch on Dale Heimbrock Way near Hicks Pike. When officers approached the vehicle, they found the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Garvey was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital-Florence, where he was pronounced dead.

Florence police said he acted alone and there was no further danger to the public.

“We’ve never had anything like this before,” Mallery said. “We know it’s happening all over the country, but Florence was the first place we’ve had a mass shooting.”

The chief said officers arrived at the home earlier in the night for a noise complaint unrelated to the shooting.

Police Chief Mallery expressed the public’s sympathy to the victims of the shooting. He praised the actions of his police officers.

Florence Police investigators have asked anyone with information to contact police at 859-371-1234.

NKyTribune staff contributed to this story.