Driver arrested in drive-by shooting told officers he “lost his mind” because he was being harassed

A truck driver arrested after a drive-by shooting over the weekend told police that he “lost his mind” after being harassed prior to the serious incident. 

The drive-by shooting happened on Saturday, August 1st in Owensboro, Kentucky in the area of West 5th Street Road just before 7 p.m. 

According to 14 News, a truck driver in a bobtail semi truck fired multiple shots at a house on Ashland Avenue from inside the cab before driving off. Authorities responded to the scene on reports of multiple gun shots, where a man told them that he was standing in his yard when the suspect fired rounds at him. No one was hurt in the drive-by shooting. 

The Daviess County Sheriff’s office was able to acquire footage of the truck from a nearby surveillance camera, and received GPS data from the owner of the rig. The pictures and GPS data led to the capture of the truck driver in Owensboro.

The truck driver was identified as 55-year-old Derek Jennings and was taken into custody in Owensboro. Officers searched the bobtail semi truck and discovered multiple firearms, including the AR-15 thought to have been the weapon used in the drive-by shooting. Officers also discovered ammunition and shell casings. 

Once in custody, Jennings refused to speak with detectives about the incident, but did state that he had “lost his mind,” and was “tired of being harassed.” Jennings also named an individual known to live on Ashland Avenue where the shooting occurred, leading police to believe that the shooting was targeted. 

“This was an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing to do, and we are very fortunate that no one was injured. I am grateful to the community for quickly providing vital information that assisted our investigation and to the outstanding work of our deputies, detectives and fellow law enforcement agencies for bringing this incident to a very fast resolution,” said Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman. 

Jennings has been booked on charges of wanton endangerment, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident. No further information has been released.