Crime
42-year-old Christopher Lester killed in Pike County shooting, 2 suspects arrested
Both men are charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Pikeville Post is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the Steele community of Pike County on Saturday, January 11.
KSP troopers and investigators were dispatched to a residence on Laurel Fork Road, where they discovered 42-year-old Christopher Lester of Steele with fatal gunshot wounds.
The Pike County Coroner’s Office pronounced Lester deceased at the scene.
His body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
The investigation led to the arrests of two individuals, Michael Brown and Anthony Browning.
Both men are charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Michael Brown was apprehended by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office in the Paw Paw area of Buchanan County, Virginia. He was arrested on a Kentucky warrant without incident and transported to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.
Brown remains in custody awaiting extradition to Kentucky. Authorities have also identified him as a person of interest in another shooting incident in Kentucky.
Anthony Browning was similarly taken into custody, though details of his arrest have not been disclosed at this time.
KSP investigators are actively working to determine the circumstances leading to the shooting and any potential connections between the suspects and the victim.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Kentucky State Police Pikeville Post.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.