By Joanna Putman
Police1
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department has released body camera footage of a fatal police shooting of a man who threatened officers with a knife and continued to run toward them after being tased and shot, WHAS reported.
The May 10 incident began when officers were dispatched to respond to a reported theft. The caller also made unusual claims about a stingray being used to force people from their homes and mentioned he was armed with a knife and had an aggressive dog, according to the report.
Earlier that day, officers and EMS had visited the caller’s home on a medical call but left due to the aggressive nature of his dog and his refusal to secure the animal, LMPD Deputy Chief Steve Healey stated.
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Upon arriving at the scene, video shows officers encountering the caller armed with a large Ka-Bar knife. Officers identified themselves and instructed the man not to come out of his home while still holding the knife.
The man refused and yelled at officers, making incoherent statements about people stealing from his “trap house.”
“I am not f****** around!” the man shouted repeatedly.
The footage then shows the man and his large dog running toward the officers. One officer deployed a TASER and two shots were fired at the man, bringing him to the ground.
After being momentarily subdued by the TASER, the man climbed back to his feet and started to run at the officers again.
Officers then fired several shots at the man, bringing him to the ground again. He continued to hold the knife in an aggressive position despite officers’ instructions to drop it.
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“Finish me c’mon,” the man can be heard saying. Officers surrounded the man, attempting to disarm him. One officer kicked the man several times to get him to release the knife before ordering him to roll over on his stomach.
“He continued to hold that knife and keep officers at bay, even after being tased, shot, and while on the ground as officers tried to provide life-saving measures,” Deputy Chief Healey stated.
Officers eventually disarmed and handcuffed the suspect, providing medical aid until EMS arrived, according to the report. The suspect was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on May 12.