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GALLATIN COUNTY – The sheriff of Gallatin County is recovering at home after a man opened fire on him late Tuesday during a domestic violence situation and then killed himself, according to Kentucky State Police.

Sheriff Josh Neale, who is in his mid-to-late 30s, was shot in the abdomen just before 10:30 p.m. at a home on Kentucky 16 near Glencoe. He was airlifted to University Hospital, state police said in a prepared statement.

He was treated and released just after 3 a.m. Wednesday, said Dispatcher Amanda Roberts with the police’s Campbellsburg post.


Kentucky State Police later identified the gunman as Erich V. Stahl, 20 of Glencoe, Ky. Stahl, a convicted felon, had a criminal history including an assault conviction, according to state police investigators. An autopsy is being conducted Wednesday at the Northern Kentucky Medical Examiner’s office.

Neale, a married father with one small daughter, is in his first term of office, Roberts said.

“He is a very wholesome country man that takes pride in his job and loves his family,” said Roberts, 28, who grew up with the sheriff and remains a close family friend.

She was working her regular night shift late Tuesday when reports of the shooting erupted from the police radio. It was touch and go at first, and she had to scramble to get immediate police backup to the scene.

“For a good two hours, we didn’t know, but it eventually got better,” she said. “Our job is to protect and to serve, but I’m going to make sure my guys get home.”

The incident began when Neale and Deputy Capt. Brent McDonald responded to a report at 10:16 p.m. for a domestic violence situation involving a hostage at a residence at Kentucky 16 and Ponderosa Drive.

The men had just arrived at the scene when Stahl armed with a .357 Magnum revolver opened fire on the sheriff, striking him in the abdomen, according to state police.

Stahl then immediately turned the weapon on himself, police said.

Without delay, Capt. McDonald removed the sheriff from the situation by placing him in a police cruiser and going to the Gallatin County Fairgrounds so Neale could be airlifted to University Hospital.

Neale was conscious and alert at the time.

The case remains under investigation by state police.