The Associated Press

DANVILLE, Ky. - A Danville man is dead and another is being sought by police after a shooting Christmas Eve.

Danville police say they found Robert Thornton III, 27, lying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds at 9:06 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Parkside East Apartments. Police had received a report of gunshots fired in the area.

Mr. Thornton was pronounced dead at 10 p.m. at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center by Boyle County Coroner James Ramsey. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Ed Byron Coulter, 20, of Danville, on a charge of murder.

Captain Robert Williamson, who is heading the investigation, said he could release few details about the case because, "the investigation is ongoing and we are not at liberty to discuss it."

Information about Mr. Coulter was distributed to other law-enforcement officers as part of the search, said Captain Jay Newell. Mr. Coulter has been known to spell his name differently, sometimes using "Edd" and "Byrion" as well as giving incorrect birth dates, Capt. Newell said.

Mr. Coulter was paroled from the Lincoln County Regional Jail on May 21 after serving part of a five-year sentence. He was convicted of criminal facilitation to commit first-degree robbery in Fayette County on Aug. 29, 2000.