Man arrested following shooting investigation

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Police in Laurel County arrested a man after he reportedly left the scene of an incident.

William Malicoat, 43, of London, was charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

The situation started Friday morning, when deputies with the sheriff’s office were dispatched to a gunshot complaint off US-25 at an outside shed behind a home, approximately two miles away from London.

Police arrived at the scene and found a man, identified as Jacob Hurley, 27, of East Bernstadt, with a gunshot wound to the hand.

The victim said he had been cleaning a pistol when it inadvertently discharged, striking him in the hand.

Hurley’s girlfriend and Malicoat were also there during the incident.

Deputies say Malicoat left the scene with the pistol and was later found roughly one quarter of a mile away at a business off US-25.

Police later determined that Malicoat was a convicted felon and was wanted on an outstanding warrant.

Hurley was treated at the scene by EMS and Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County before he was flown to the University of Kentucky hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound.

Malicoat is also facing a host of other charges including a warrant of receiving stolen property of $10,000 or more; fleeing/evading police - first degree - motor vehicle; and reckless driving.

The warrant stemmed from a situation on February 5, where Malicoat reportedly drove off from a business without paying for gas off Highway 30 in the northern part of the county.

During the pursuit, police said Malicoat drove very reckless and committed several traffic violations.

Malicoat was taken to the Laurel County Correctional Center.