NEW DETAILS: 2 dead, 1 injured after triple shooting at Hardin Judicial Center; suspect dead

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – The Elizabethtown Police Department has confirmed a suspect is dead following a triple shooting in Hardin County on Monday that claimed two lives.

According to a report by the Associated Press, 37-year-old Erica Riley and Riley’s mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley of Hardinsburg, were fatally shot, and one male victim was injured during the incident. The Elizabethtown Police Department has since confirmed the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Christopher Elder, has died as the result of a self-inflected gunshot wound during a standoff with law enforcement.

Police say the shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Hardin County Courthouse on Monday morning.

The Associated Press says Christopher Elder and Erica Riley were at a court hearing Monday morning before the shooting occurred, Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said at a media briefing. Thompson said the victim and Elder had been in a relationship.

The man who was shot was related to Riley, Thompson said. His identity has not been released at this time.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were searching for Elder, who was located Monday afternoon. Police say during the pursuit, Elder pointed the rifle at himself and at officers.

The Hopkinsville Police Department says after 90 minutes of speaking with negotiators, Elder attempted to take his own life and sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

Police say Elder was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries Monday evening.