Covington neighbors felt ‘trouble brewing’ before fatal shooting

COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) - Neighbors in the 4000 block of Church Street in Covington said trouble had been brewing for a while before a fatal shooting on Tuesday.

A Covington man - Robert Hartman, 32 - was arrested and charged with murder in the death of Patrick E. Sand, a 51-year-old, also from Covington.

Sand was pronounced dead by police when they arrived at the scene, according to a report from the Covington Police Department.

A woman was also injured and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders says the woman is thought to have been mauled by a dog.

One neighbor, who declined to be identified, said trouble began after the owner started renting out the house where the shooting occurred.

“It seems like he just started letting anyone live there,” the neighbor said. “There would be fights, there would be noise. There would be people high on drugs.”

The neighbor said residents were relieved after several tenants at the house were evicted a few months ago, but the shooting has them unnerved.

“We hope he sells it to somebody good who wants to buy it and live there,” the neighbor said. “That’s all you can hope for is stability.”

A police report shows that Hartman admitted to police that he shot Sands and also showed them where the firearm was located.

The gun was in the bed of a pickup truck in the driveway, the report states.

Hartman is currently at the Kenton County Detention Center.

His bond has been set at $500,000 court records say.

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