Sheriff’s office releases new information in Morrison shooting investigation

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Friday, Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower hosted a special meeting at the WCSO Training Center to discuss the investigation of the shooting death of Tyreque Morrison.

The Warren County Sheriff’s office responded to a shooting incident just after 12 pm on September 13, 2025, in the 200 block of East Heights Avenue in Bowling Green.

When law enforcement arrived, they located Tyreque Morrison inside his apartment with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Video surveillance evidence shows that Morrison was engaged in a verbal argument with his neighbors throughout the morning of the incident. The neighbors were not visible in the video surveillance footage.

Morrison brandished an ak-47 rifle during these verbal arguments. His immediate neighbor can also be seen brandishing a firearm that was not loaded, according to detectives.

At approximately noon, the video evidence shows that Morrison exited his apartment and fired two rounds from his rifle.

The individuals arguing with Morrison at the neighboring apartment then returned approximately 68 rounds.

One of the rounds struck Morrison in the head.

Morrison collapsed in the doorway. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

Hightower says the range of rounds fired at Morrison spanned 300 feet.

Witnesses told detectives they saw multiple vehicles leave the scene following the shootout between Morrison and the individuals.

Through investigation, Hightower says detectives discovered that Morrison was involved in arguments over suspected drugs with the neighbors for several months.

Hightower says Leonardo Burks and Rodney Burks were identified as suspects in the investigation.

The case was presented to a Warren County grand jury on November 19, 2025.

The grand jury indicted both Burks with tampering with physical evidence because they fled the scene with the firearms.

The grand jury voted not to press further charges due to insufficient evidence based on state law.

Hightower says questions remain regarding the incident.

“Was there a threat that he perceived at that time? And so one of the witnesses that saw exactly what he saw when he fired in that direction, their statement to us was that they did not present their weapons in the direction that he was,” he said.

Rodney Burks was arrested on December 8, 2025, and Leonardo Burks was arrested on December 10, 2025.

Both were arraigned on December 15, 2025, and are set to appear for a pre-trial conference on February 23.

Sheriff Hightower says that his office continues to investigate the case.

“We’ve gone back out there and talked to some other folks. We’ve re-canvassed the area for any cameras. There were several. If you drive through there, it appeared that there were other cameras there, but then when you talk to them, it was that they were dummy cameras or there’s no subscription, only camera service,” said Hightower.

Individuals with information on the shooting incident are encouraged to contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.