17-year-old homicide suspect dies 8 days after being shot by Louisville police officer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 17-year-old boy shot by a Louisville Metro Police officer earlier this month died at UofL Hospital, the department said Wednesday.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said officers from the department's Criminal Interdiction Unit were conducting surveillance in the area of South 3rd Street and West Kenton streets in the Wilder Park neighborhood around 3 p.m. as part of a recent homicide investigation.

Gwinn-Villaroel said detectives were observing a person of interest in one of the multiple homicides that happened over the weekend.

When officers approached the suspect, a 17-year-old, the police chief said he displayed a firearm and began to flee. Detectives were able to tackle him and began to wrestle for the firearm in the suspect's hands.

"After multiple requests to release the gun, the suspect discharged the firearm," Gwinn-Villaroel said. "At which point one of our officers returned fire, striking the suspect one time."

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS, which transported the suspect to the hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries. He died Wednesday, LMPD spokesperson John Bradley said.

The officer, identified later as Detective Benjamin Derby, has been on the force since February 2020 and is currently assigned to the CID. He has received numerous commendations, along with one oral reprimand for a traffic crash, and four letters of reprimand for minor traffic violations.

LMPD arrested a second suspect — 19-year-old Julian Oyaro — on drug charges after the shooting. Oyaro is charged with trafficking fentanyl and heroin, tampering with evidence, fleeing from police, and possession of marijuana.

Body camera footage of the shooting could be released soon.

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