Innocent bystander shot in Covington; police still trying to identify shooter

An innocent bystander from Covington was shot in the face last weekend when a fight erupted at an area nightclub, a Covington Police Department official said.

Miraculously, 30-year-old Huston M. Wilson Jr. of 1205 N. Fillmore St., did not suffer major injuries when he was shot with a .25-caliber bullet that entered his cheek and exited behind his ear, Lt. Jack West said.

Police are searching for the shooter who they believe pulled the trigger at Melody Lounge at 219 W. 29th Ave. and Madison Street about 1 a.m. Oct. 4, West said. Once caught, the triggerman will be booked with attempted second-degree murder, West said.

The shooter had spent the day at the Covington fair and went to the lounge looking for his target, whom he apparently had a long standing feud with, West said. Instead, the gunman fired, missed his target, hit Wilson and fled, West said.

While West considered it a miracle Wilson survived, its not uncommon. Bullets from .25-caliber guns are known to barrel into people or objects and “bounce around” as trajectory changes, he said.

In some cases, law enforcement officers have tested those bullets on bowling pins. The bullet entered the pin and wrapped around its backside and came shooting out the front again. Anyone with information about the shooter’s identity or whereabouts should call Detective Robert Blunt at 892-8500.