Madisonville Man Arrested For Felony Assault After Shooting Victim With CO2-Powered BB Gun

A dispute over a pool stick leads to felony assault charges for a Madisonville man after shooting a victim with a BB gun. Read the full police report.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:43 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from WFIE 14 News

A Madisonville man is facing felony assault charges following a bizarre and violent confrontation over a piece of sports equipment. According to the Madisonville Police Department (MPD), officers were dispatched to the area of South Madison Avenue and West Lake Street on Wednesday afternoon following reports of an active assault. Upon arrival, they discovered a victim suffering from multiple puncture wounds caused by a high-powered air pistol.

The investigation revealed that the altercation began as a verbal argument between Michael Webster and the victim regarding the alleged theft of a pool stick. The victim told investigators that the situation escalated when Webster swung at him, prompting the victim to back away and attempt to leave the premises. As the victim walked down the front steps, Webster allegedly retrieved a CO2-powered air pistol and opened fire, striking the man multiple times in the back, arm, and shoulder.

Responding officers noted that the injuries were significant. According to the police report, one BB projectile was found protruding from the skin of the victim’s back, another was lodged beneath the skin of his arm with active bleeding, and a third was embedded in his shoulder. Medical personnel were called to the scene to treat the wounds, which were described as non-life-threatening but required invasive removal of the projectiles.

Webster was located by police shortly after the incident. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to firing the BB gun at the victim. While air-powered guns are often perceived as less lethal than traditional firearms, their use in an intentional attack meets the legal threshold for felony assault in Kentucky due to the potential for serious physical injury.

Webster was arrested without further incident and transported to the Hopkins County Jail. He has been officially booked on a charge of 2nd Degree Assault, a Class C felony. Under Kentucky law, 2nd Degree Assault carries a potential prison sentence of five to ten years. Webster remains in custody pending his initial court appearance, and the BB gun used in the attack has been seized as evidence.