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
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.