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Jeffersontown Shooting: Koenig Took Photos, Update from Pickerill's Family

4:23 PM Mon, Jul 23, 2007 |

As Darren Pickerill's doctors wait for his fever to subside for an important surgery, Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders had two pieces of news for me today (July 23, 2007)

Sanders confirms what I had been hearing, that after retired officer Rick Koenig shot Darren Pickerill, Koenig got out of his Jeep Cherokee and took photographs of the scene. Sanders did not specify how many photos were taken, only that a number were taken and police have those photos.

Sanders is meeting with Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel each week, and says this Friday he hopes they will set a date for the grand jury to decide whether to charge Koenig with a crime for the parking lot shooting.

This follows Sanders' revelation last week that Koenig and his wife both claim that Darren Pickerill drew and pointed his gun at them, which is why Koenig fired in self-defense. In earlier statements, Sanders had only said that Koenig claimed that Pickerill "showed" or "displayed" a weapon.

What's the difference? You tell me. I am very interested in the public's reaction.

I met with Pickerill's fiance and sister today, who say Koenig's claim is not consistent with Pickerill's wounds.

Darren is left-handed, so they say if he pointed a gun at Koenig, it likely would have been extended from the driver's side window. If he was pointing it when he was shot, then why did the gun end up in the open console of his Hummer? The family suggests that if he was pointing the gun, it would have either ended up on the ground or Pickerill would have fired it. Police don't believe Pickerill fired his gun.

Darren's fiance, Toby Kubas, says they have come to terms with the fact that he has suffered brain damage. It will take a year to get an accurate idea of the extent of the damage. It's clear they don't believe he will be able to tell his side of the story, so they are desperate for anyone to come forward who might still be able to establish the facts.

As of now, the only eyewitnesses are Koenig and his wife, whom Kubas says are not credible witnesses.

Pickerill is still fighting infections from the bullet he took in the right frontal lobe of his brain. That bullet fragmented, damaging his skull and making it impossible to remove.

He will need a permanent shunt to drain fluid from his brain. He has had part of his skull removed to relieve the pressure.

I'll share more of my observations on the family later.... heading out to my live shot now....



2 Comments

Ann said:

I am glad to see that Darren's story is being kept "alive." I only wish that he could be given the same opportunity as Koenig who is able to tell his "STORY."
I pray daily for Darren and his family and that someone among the crowd who witnessed this tragic incident will not be afraid to come forward to speak on Darren's behalf.

glen douglas said:

I just hope this does not get swept under the rug and the story can be used when this man does something else to another poor resident of our city. But when that happens Iam sure they will find a way to keep his past a secert and it will be another strange happening for this poor retired police officer as the ones before this.


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