DANVILLE, Ky., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A Burnside, Ky., pastor has been charged in a triple homicide and robbery at a pawn shop he used to own, authorities said.
Kenneth Allen Keith, 48, was charged Wednesday with three counts of murder and one count of first-degree robbery for the Sept. 20 incident at the ABC Gold, Games and More pawn shop in Danville, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Michael Hockensmith, 35; his wife, Angela Hockensmith, 38; and Daniel Smith, 60, were shot to death, police said.
Tony Hockensmith, Michael Hockensmith's brother, said his brother had bought the pawn shop from Keith several months ago after having managed it for two years.
Related
Michael Hockensmith had also been selling gold to Keith's business, Gold Rush Gold buyers, but had recently switched to selling to a gold-buying business run by Smith, Tony Hockensmith said.
"I guess that's where the problems started," Hockensmith said.
A day after the shootings, Keith, who also worked as a pastor at the Main Street Baptist Church in Burnside, posted on his Facebook page that his "heart is broken" by the deaths.
"No sleep at all, I am just in shock right now over this loss of three great people. We never know what is coming on the next breeze so breath deep the breath God gives you now," Keith posted Sept. 21.
He later commented twice on that post: "I also knew the third man he was a business client and good friend. Remember the Smith family also. His wife Sally." The second comment said: "Any of them would have given you the last dime they had if you needed it. No sense, none at all. Dan had given money to support youth camp every year since I have known him. Mike and Angela were counselors. My heart is broken."
Keith is being held at the Boyle County jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.
