On the morning of February 18, 2023, 29-year-old Ryan Chase Whitaker was found in the driveway of a residence on Gambill Drive in the Hazard community of Perry County, Kentucky, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders and the Perry County Coroner’s Office pronounced Whitaker deceased at the scene. Kentucky State Police, Post 13, opened an investigation that found the fatal encounter began as a verbal disagreement with another man and escalated into a physical altercation during which a firearm was discharged.

Authorities identified 27-year-old Troy Campbell, also of Hazard, as the person involved in the altercation. Campbell was taken into custody, arrested, transported to the Kentucky River Regional Jail, and charged with one count of murder in connection with Whitaker’s death. The case is being handled by Detective Robert Dials of the Kentucky State Police.

If anyone has information about the events on Gambill Drive that morning, or knew Whitaker or Campbell and can help with the investigation, please come forward.