LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is helping the state of Kentucky in its investigation of the gun that may have been used to kill Tommy Ballard.
Ballard, the father of Crystal Rogers, was shot in the chest and killed on Nov. 19, 2016. It happened right as he was about to go hunting on family property in Nelson County with his young grandson. While police initially called his death a hunting accident, the FBI has since ruled it a homicide.
Brooks Houck was arrested last month and charged with Rogers' murder. During his arraignment in court on Oct. 5, the special prosecutor dropped a bombshell that Houck's brother, Nick Houck, was being investigated for the murder of Ballard.
"We are waiting for testing to come back from the firearm we believe was used to murder Tommy Ballard," Prosecutor Shane Young told a Nelson County judge in court. "The firearm that we purchased from Nicholas Houck, who was using a fake name when he sold the rifle."
Louisville ATF said it's been working with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and other law enforcement agencies in investigating the firearm.
In court, Young said the gun is the same caliber as the gun used in Ballard's death and, so far, matches four of the five criteria they were looking at in comparison.
The ATF said it's been assisting with the case since Rogers went missing in 2015. It's using special agents and technical assistance from its ATF National Lab, along with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Louisville.
At this time, Nick Houck isn't facing any charges.Â
Related Stories:
- Looking back at Nick Houck's failed lie detector test in Crystal Rogers' case
- Brooks Houck's family is accused of secretly recording grand jury proceedings. Here's why they won't be charged for it.
- Prosecutor says state investigation into Brooks Houck connects his family to murder of Crystal Rogers' father
- Attorney for Brooks Houck requests $10 million bond be lowered to $500,000, GPS monitoring
- Brooks Houck charged in murder of former girlfriend Crystal Rogers, bond set at $10 million
- Families of Crystal Rogers, Brooks Houck fight for custody of their 10-year-old son
- After long custody battle, Crystal Rogers' mother denied right to see her grandson
- Judge upholds court ruling denying Sherry Ballard the right to see her grandson until custody case resolved
- Judge rules Crystal Rogers' son can no longer see his grandmother, Sherry Ballard
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