Spencer County:  Two people have been charged for their roles in the death of Cody L. Bailey.

Yesterday the Indiana State Police launched an investigation after being notified of the shooting death of Cody L. Bailey, 20, Owensboro.  

Early yesterday morning a group of people had gathered on West River Road in Spencer County for a social gathering.  During the gathering a .22 caliber handgun was brought out and Bailey was shot. 

Preliminary investigation reveals Joseph E. Galloway, 19, Owensboro allegedly brought the handgun to the party.   At some point in the gathering a 17-year-old female from Owensboro got possession of the handgun and fired one round which hit Cody in the upper chest area. After the shooting, Galloway and a 16-year-old witness put Cody in a car and transported him to the Owensboro Health System emergency room.  A short time later he was pronounced dead.

After the shooting Galloway allegedly placed the handgun in a bush in an attempt to hide it from the investigators.  Owensboro Police located the handgun in a bush near the hospital.  The handgun was taken into evidence and Galloway was arrested for Tampering with Evidence a Class D Felony.

Today the Spencer County Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Galloway with Dangerous Control of a Firearm a Class C Felony.  Galloway is still being held in Daviess County KY on the Tampering with Evidence charge.  Once the Kentucky officials are finished with him he will be extradited to Indiana. They also formally charged the 17-year-old female as a juvenile with Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm Causing Death and Reckless Homicide both class C Felonies.  The 17-year-old female is at the Southwest Indiana Youth Village in Knox Co. 

Assisting Agencies:  Spencer County Sheriff’s Office and Owensboro City Police Department, and the Daviess County KY, Coroner’s Office

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.