A tragic shooting in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, claimed the life of 15-year-old Katen Atwell after she met up with a friend and 21-year-old Bryan Harbison, whom they connected with on Snapchat.​
Incident Details
Police responded to a 911 call at 2:30 a.m. on January 11, 2026, in a Lowe’s parking lot, where Harbison was found performing CPR on Atwell, who later died at Baptist Health Hardin. Harbison admitted to buying alcohol for the girls, believing them to be 18, and driving to the lot to drink together. The unnamed 15-year-old suspect, driving the truck, confessed to grabbing a gun from the center console, assuming it was unloaded, pointing it at Atwell in the back seat, and firing a fatal chest shot.​
Conflicting Accounts
Harbison claimed the gun was secured in his glove compartment and that the teen accessed it without his knowledge. These discrepancies emerged during police interviews following the accidental discharge.​
Charges and Status
The teenage suspect faces a murder charge and remains unnamed due to her age. Harbison is charged with third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and first-degree wanton endangerment, held on $10,000 bond at Hardin County Detention Center, with a court date of January 21, 2026.​
Community Response
Hardin County Schools mourned Atwell, a virtual school student previously at Heartland Elementary and Bluegrass Middle, offering counseling support. A GoFundMe by family organizer Lena Milburn seeks funeral funds, describing Atwell as a “beautiful soul” among four siblings. Police emphasized the devastating impact on all involved families.​
