Police Probe Shooting Death of Kentucky Insurance Department Examiner

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Police in Lexington, Kentucky are investigating the shooting death of a former state GOP lawmaker’s ex-girlfriend, after the woman was found shot to death early Friday outside her town house.

Authorities said Amanda Ross, 29, a Department of Insurance employee, was found shot outside her home, which was located in a gated community in Lexington’s downtown. Police found her ex-boyfriend, Steve Nunn, hours later at the Cosby cemetery in Hart county with what appeared to be self-inflicted wrist wounds that were not life-threatening.

Nunn, 56, has not been charged in her slaying.

But Kentucky State Police charged Nunn with six counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly brandishing a .38 caliber handgun when he was found at the cemetery, about 95 miles southwest of the scene of the shooting, spokesman Trooper Charles Swiney said.

State police were guarding Nunn at The Medical Center of Bowling Green, and he is expected to be transferred to the Hart County Detention Center upon his release from the hospital, Swiney said.

Police were investigating Ross’s death as a homicide.

Lt. Douglas Pape, a spokesman for the Lexington police department, said Nunn is “a person we would like to talk to in relationship to this investigation in Lexington.”

Nunn, son of former Republican Gov. Louie Nunn, ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003. He lost a bid for re-election to the state House in 2006 after 15 years as a state representative.

He returned to state government in 2007 as deputy secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but was put on administrative leave in February after being charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking Ross. He resigned in March.

According to Fayette County court records, Nunn was charged with domestic violence in February. A protective order protecting Ross from Nunn was in effect through March, 2010, according to court records. Nunn was also ordered not to have any firearms in his possession for the duration of the restraining order.

Ross claimed in a February 2009 complaint against Nunn that he became violent during an argument at her home and hit her in the face four times, causing red marks and bruising.

The complaint also said that Nunn pushed her against a wall, broke a lamp and threw a cup of bourbon at her, damaging the carpet.

“I called police because this has happened many times before,” Ross wrote in the domestic violence petition. She was an employee of the Kentucky Department of Insurance.

Rhonda Sloan, spokeswoman for the Department of Insurance, said Ross was director of financial standards and examination.

“We are devastated by this tragic news,” Sloan said. “Amanda was a treasured part of the Department of Insurance family, a dear friend and a valued employee. She was an extremely bright and talented woman with a wonderful sense of humor. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Gov. Steve Beshear issued a statement calling the shooting “an indescribable tragedy.”

“A young life lost so soon is always heartbreaking,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Amanda Ross and all others affected by this tragedy.”