01/07/2026
Two Teens Arrested for Attempted Murder After Shooting at Speedway Gas Station
On Monday night, at approximately 9:46pm, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting multiple shots had been fired at the Speedway Gas Station along SR 37 and US 50 West. It was reported that the shots were fired from an SUV that sped off from the scene southbound on SR 37. Responding officers, the first of which arrived within 3 minutes of the 911 call, were Sheriff’s Deputy Clifford Pruett, Sgt. Whitney Daugherty, and Sgt. Robin Compton. Officers discovered that no persons had been struck by the gunfire. The scene was secured, while interviews and crime scene processing was completed.
Initial information indicated that a verbal confrontation transpired between multiple people in the SUV that left the scene and two other people in and near a separate vehicle. After the verbal altercation, as the SUV pulled away, several shots were fired by a male occupant of the SUV. The two victims from the other vehicle were still at the gas station when officers arrived. Investigators located where gas pumps and the victim’s car had been struck by gunshots.
The SUV that fled the scene could not be located at the time. However, through various investigative techniques and work, the SUV as well as the four occupants of it were identified by investigators very early Tuesday morning. With the assistance of both Orleans PD and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence County detectives Capt. Jim Slone, Andrea Tedrow, and Michael Williams, along with Sheriff Greg Day located the suspect SUV as well as all occupants from the night before. Some occupants were located at a residence in Orleans, while the SUV and other occupants were located at a residence in Hardinsburg.
After interviews, more scene processing, searches, and the collection of evidence, probable cause was established for the arrest of two teenagers. Talon Briem (18 years old of Orleans) was arrested and incarcerated in the Lawrence County Jail for the offenses of Attempted Murder, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, and Pointing a Loaded Firearm. A 17-year-old male from Hardinsburg was arrested and detained in a juvenile facility for Assisting with Attempted Murder, Illegal Possession of a Firearm, and Obstruction of Justice.
Sheriff Day praised the work of all officers involved. “This case could not have been brought to a successful conclusion as quickly as it was if not for excellent police work. Our responding officers did an outstanding job of securing the scene and gathering all the needed facts in a quick fashion, making a quality investigation possible. Detectives were able to put all the pieces together and complete an efficient and thorough investigation. And, obviously, the assistance from both Orleans PD and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was invaluable.” Sheriff Day further stated, “Although we are extremely fortunate that no one was shot or harmed by this incident, this is an example of senseless violence when members of society lose the basic regard for the sanctity of human life. We need to find ways to resolve problems and disagreements without resorting to violence.”
The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and Lawrence County Juvenile Probation Department also assisted in this investigation. All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
