LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police released body camera footage and 911 recordings related to a fatal shooting of a man who threatened officers with a knife, WLKY reported.
According to police, officers were responding to reports of a disturbance on April 27 when they encountered the suspect, who witnesses said had been yelling and acting violently outside the complex, according to the report. While officers were en route, the man allegedly broke into a neighboring apartment and took a kitchen knife. The incident was captured on a surveillance camera inside the apartment, and a resident called 911.
Body-worn camera footage shows officers attempting to communicate with the man, who was holding a knife. Officers gave repeated commands for him to drop the weapon, which he initially did. However, as officers approached, the suspect picked up the knife again and began to struggle with them.
Police said during the struggle, the man swung the knife twice, striking Officer Cody Chapelle in his chest, hitting his ballistic vest with a plate. Officer Benjamin Klingenfus, after deploying a TASER with no effect, fired a single shot that struck the man in the head.
Officers immediately called for medical assistance. The suspect was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Officer Klingenfus, who fired the shot, has 19 years of service with LMPD and is considered one of the department’s most experienced patrol officers. Officer Chapelle, who police say was stabbed, has served for 27 years.
