Police: Deadly Shooting Was Self Defense

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Posted: 8:26 AM Jul 24, 2008
Last Updated: 6:45 PM Jul 24, 2008
Reporter: Phil Pendleton
Email Address: phil.pendleton@wkyt.com

14 comments

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It's not the kind of violence people on Hwy. 635 near Science Hill say they're used to seeing, but on Wednesday night, a man saw a fist fight turn deadly, right before his eyes.

“A pick-up truck rolled in over at the neighbor's house. My neighbor came out, guy jumped out of the passenger side and swung at him,” said the Ky. 635 resident, who asked not to be identified.

Police say the people in the truck he described were Jim Wesley Goff, Goff's wife, Heather, and Jim Strunk. Police say they were armed with a wooden club and went to Joshua Pyles home to assault him.

“And they got into a (fist fight). The driver got out, that made it two on one, and then the neighbor across the street was helping him, helping even it out,” said the witness.

It was actually the second time in two days police say Goff was found at Pyles’ home. Police say he was arrested for attempted burglary Tuesday night and then after he was released from jail sometime on Wednesday, he returned there.

“Evidently the victim was harboring hard feelings over being arrested the night before,” said Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood.

Police say Pyles shot Goff in self defense and no charges were filed against him. Goff died of gunshot wounds to the face and his alleged accomplices, Heather Goff and Jim Strunk, were arrested on assault charges.

“They were active participants in the event. They traveled with the shooting victim to the scene,” said Sheriff Wood.

Police say Pyles was injured in the assault, but he was treated at the scene.

Heather Goff is charged with second-degree assault.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Bil Location: eastern,ky on Jul 28, 2008 at 03:06 AM
If you look for trouble your liable to find it...

Posted by: Leg Location: End on Jul 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Strunk and the wife need to be charged with homicide for being involved in a crime that resulted in death.

Posted by: Bender Location: Lexington on Jul 26, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Judging by the pictures, it looks like somebody should be charged with 1st degree assault with an ugly stick. Did they make that guy take his shirt off for his mug shot? Gross. Patchy, black hairs all over.. yick.

Posted by: SOMEONEWHOKNOWS Location: PULASKI on Jul 26, 2008 at 01:51 AM
Don't you know you can claim self defense in Pulaski and Rockcastle like Derel Griffin does every time he goes on a shooting spree and gets away with it. (Which this story sounds like it really was self defense). The SHOOTINGS Derel has done aren't self defense, he's a paranoid freak trying to KILL innocent human beings including CHILDREN and our law keeps letting him off!!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 26, 2008 at 01:19 AM
Giter Done

Posted by: Sharon Location: Ky. on Jul 26, 2008 at 01:07 AM
This is sad anyway that you look at it. It sounds like they went looking for trouble and they found it. I would of done the same thing if it had to be that way. Your home is your safe haven. You can't be ran any futher than that. Where i live the law doesn't come most of the when called.

Posted by: Firend Location: London, KY on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:07 PM
People we can justify this anyway you want to. Fact is Mr. Pyles acted just as anybody else would have. In fact if he wanted to intentionally kill somebody don't you think he would have killed the other two. He did just what he had to do at the time to protect his family. Anybody out there that says they wouldn't do the same thing to protect the ones they love is a liar. As hard as it must be to loose a son you would think fathers would teach their children right from wrong when they are young and for the most want have to go thru situations like this when they are older. I think the sadest part of this that Mr. Pyles and his family will have to live with this in the back of their minds. All because some idiot had hard feelings over going to jail for breaking the law in the first place. There again if Mr. Pyles wanted to kill this idiot he would have done it on teusday night. Not by chance wait to see if he just by chance would come back. How did he know that the idiot was coming back.

Posted by: Early Cuyler Location: Squidville on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:06 PM
There is a new law in the state: If you feel you are in fear for your life you may use deadly force ANYWHERE in the State. Main Street, the Ice Cream shop, the local park etc. etc. Just as long as you fear for your life you don't have to turn tail and run off. This was way over due in coming, in my opinion.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Well lets see, Yes! There were kids involved. Poor little 6 and 7 year old girls, they were kept inside to stay safe. They were having a family cook out when these thugs decided to bust in. There was also a metal pipe involved as well as a wooden club. All he was trying to do was pertect his family. What would anybody do, he warned them 2 times with warning shot and they kept on fighting.

Posted by: Angie Location: Lexington on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Looks like Goff got what he deserved....

Posted by: jw Location: KY on Jul 25, 2008 at 12:09 AM
This is real sad for the Goff family. 10 years ago another son died from a problem also. The Father has lost a second son in 10 years.

Posted by: A FAMILY MEMBER Location: SOMERSET KY on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:29 PM
I wish I new the rest of what was going on. It seems alot was left out of the story, tht led up to the shooting. I thought that they had to be in your home before its called self defense.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:05 PM
The sad thing for the Goff family is that his brother was killed in a bad drug deal 10 years ago. Now the Dad has lost another son.

Posted by: Kim Location: Somerset on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:49 PM
My question is if they where fist fighting in the front yard where did the shot gun come from? If he had time to go get a shot gun and got away from his attackers then how is deadly force justified?

Posted by: EM Location: Lex Ky on Jul 24, 2008 at 02:32 PM
If they were boiling for a fight - they found one. I'm glad it was ruled self defense....they were trespassing on private property.

Posted by: Leo Location: South Commonwealth on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Seems every time someone decided to go "fight" somebody, they have to bring their buddies along for backup. Maybe if he'd shown up alone and unarmed, he could have got that fight he was looking for. No, then it would have been a "fair" fight! I agree with Kevin. Glad we can still defend ourselves. I'd bet alcohol was involved. People like that don't decide they want to fight unless they've had a couple cans of "bravery juice" and buddies to go with them.

Posted by: Jim Location: Kentucky on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I just wonder if there were any kids present when this happened. Just crazy how people choose to live their lives.

Posted by: james Location: corbin on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I dont blame him one bit.

Posted by: MJ Location: Lex on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:54 AM
These two look like a couple of winners.

Posted by: Kevin Location: Kentucky on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:14 AM
It is good to see we can still defend ourselves.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:37 AM
I'm sure there is more to this story than what is being reported but for all the thugs in the world don't bring a club to a gun fight. End result you might get killed.

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