Published: July 24, 2008 09:25 pm      

Fatal shooting part of ongoing conflict

Jim Wesley Goff, 34, killed during incident on Ky. 635

Investigators say a Somerset man killed by a shotgun blast during an altercation Wednesday night had returned to the scene after an earlier conflict in possible retaliation against the resident who lives on the property.

Jim Wesley Goff, 34, of Westgate Drive, Somerset, was pronounced dead by Pulaski County Coroner Richard New at approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after authorities responded to a report of a fight on West Ky. 635 in Science Hill, according to a press release from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Wednesday night’s incident was only the latest event in an ongoing conflict between Goff and Joshua Pyles, who rents the house where the incident occurred. Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood said Goff had been arrested on alcohol-related charges at the same property around midnight on Tuesday, about 20 hours before he was killed.

“There is certainly a history,” Wood said. “There was an event the night before and our department arrested Mr. Goff at that same location. ... It may have led him (Goff) to want to come back and seek revenge or retaliation.”

The Major Crimes Task Force is investigating other factors that may have led Goff to return to the property.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Goff, his wife Heather Goff, 29, and John Strunk, 46, of Heaton Ford Road, Science Hill, had driven from Somerset to Science Hill to the property located approximately four miles out West Ky. 635. Wood said two other persons were also in the vehicle when it arrived on the property.

“We’re still looking into reports that some suspects may have scattered and come back to the crime scene,” Wood said.

Goff reportedly began fighting with Pyles outside Pyles’ home. Strunk and Heather Goff then began fighting with Pyles’ fiancée, Tammy Coomer. The fight escalated when a neighbor, Wesley Johnson, intervened in an attempt to stop the fight, according to investigators.

Jim Wesley Goff was armed with a wooden club and “was using it in the assault against the residents (Pyles and Coomer),” according to the press release.

Wood said an investigation into reports of other weapons being used during the fight is being conducted, but so far nothing has been found.

“We have no reason to believe that there were any other weapons on the scene besides what was discovered when investigators arrived,” Wood said.

After several minutes of fighting, Pyles retrieved a shotgun and asked that the suspects leave the property. The suspects refused to leave and continued to make threats toward Pyles and Coomer. It was at that point Pyles fired one shot at Jim Wesley Goff, fatally wounding him, according to Wood.

Wood could not comment on what type of conflict had occurred that led to the incidents on the property, but he did confirm that Goff had a past criminal history not related to the Wednesday night incident.

Heather Goff and John Strunk also have a criminal history within the county, according to Wood.

Wood also said someone associated with Jim Wesley Goff also attempted to contact Pyles earlier in the day Wednesday before the altercation occurred.

Heather Goff and Strunk were both arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree assault stemming from “their participation in traveling to the Pyles residence and being involved in assaulting Pyles, Coomer and Johnson,” according to the press release.

Both were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

Pyles has not yet been charged in the shooting because the initial investigation indicated that he was “acting in self-defense in protecting himself and his family,” according to Wood.

The results of the investigation will be presented to a Pulaski County grand jury.

Wood said he couldn’t comment on any other specifics of the case, but he said that there may be additional arrests as the investigation continues.

The sheriff’s department was assisted at the scene by the Kentucky State Police, Somerset Fire/EMS and the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office.

An investigation is being conducted by the Pulaski County Major Crimes Task Force.