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BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

Correspondent

HUSTONVILLE – A man shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself Friday afternoon, according to Kentucky State Police.

KSP Post 7 Detective Storm Stevens is investigating the murder-suicide that occurred Feb. 10 on Mocassin Road.

According to an initial press release, KSP received a call from Bluegrass 911 just before 4 p.m on Friday requesting investigative assistance for two individuals who had been shot.

Preliminary investigation indicates Steven Hiter, 52, shot Jamie Fowler, 51, before turning the weapon on himself, according to the release.

Lincoln County Coroner Farris Marcum pronounced Fowler and Hiter dead at 4:45 p.m. on Friday.

“It’s domestic-related,” Marcum said. “It’s my understanding they had been in a relationship for a while.”

When a family member couldn’t reach Fowler, she went to the residence. When she made entry into the house, she discovered Hiter and called the authorities.

“When authorities got there, the female victim was discovered as well,” he said.

Fowler died of multiple gun shot wounds, Marcum said.

“It was a small-caliber handgun,” he said.

Marcum said he doesn’t know the couple’s history but there was a domestic violence call to the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 5.

Lincoln County Sheriff Shawn Hines said deputies were on their way to the residence on Feb. 5 when Fowler called and said they didn’t need to come.

Deputies continued with their response, as is policy, Hines said. When they arrived, there was no visible injury or evidence of physical abuse, and they were told it was all verbal.

Hines said Fowler told deputies she was in the process of moving out.

“It’s a very sad situation,” Marcum said. “Unfortunately, domestic violence is very common in today’s society. Anger and guns don’t mix too well.”

Autopsies were performed on both the victim and the shooter Saturday morning, he said.

Marcum said alcohol and drugs were present in the home, and toxicology results are pending.