Jett Ballard Obituary – The 14-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in an accidental shooting in Estill County has been identified as Jett Ballard from Berea. Estill County Coroner Jimmy Wise confirmed Jett’s identity, as reported by WKYT, a news partner of the Herald-Leader.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 12 on Clark Road, where Jett was unintentionally shot by a 13-year-old outside a residence, according to law enforcement. Kentucky State Police Post 7 in Richmond provided assistance with the investigation at the behest of the Estill County Sheriff’s Office.
Coroner Wise stated that there is no suspicion of foul play in this tragic event.
Jett was preparing to enroll at Madison Southern High School in Berea and had previously participated in the Farristown Middle Football program. He was recognized as a two-year All-Star Classic player and had been part of the Region 3 Battle of the Region teams during his time in middle school.
To aid the Ballard family, a GoFundMe campaign was initiated with a fundraising target of $20,000. As of Wednesday afternoon, the donations have reached nearly $15,000.
