LOUSIVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers Thursday night in southwest Louisville.
According to LMPD Interim Chief Paul Humphrey, a trouble call came in about 9:30 p.m. Thursday to the 6600 block of Eagle Wood Drive, which is off Dixie Highway and Moorman Road, not far from the Gene Snyder Freeway.
Humphrey said when police arrived, family members at the house where the 911 call was made told officers a man inside was agitated, so the family got out of the house. While officers were outside the home, the man grabbed a knife and came at police," Humphrey said.
His family said the man called 911 on himself because he was having hallucinations.
Humphrey said officers ordered the man to drop the knife several times, but he refused. Officers used multiple non-lethal methods, including tasers, to try and stop him as he approached officers, who then opened fire.
The man's family, who did not want to speak on camera, said their loved one — Yoel Napoles — called 911 on himself because he wanted medical help, believing he was having hallucinations. But the situation turned fatal, even though Napoles' family said they were trusting LMPD officers and others on scene to help them.
Family members said Napoles, who is Hispanic, speaks excellent English and would have understood officers' commands to drop the knife. They said he was also carrying a Bible.
LaTonya Kirkpatrick, who lives nearby, said the gunfire woke her up.
"I ran out, and it was someone on the sidewalk, she lived there, screaming and crying," she said. "... I can't help. We don't communicate a lot, because they don't speak English. So we don't communicate. But I saw her screaming and hollering so I assumed someone got hurt."
It happened late Thursday night in southwest Louisville
Humphrey said it's a tragic situation.
"This is obviously a tragedy," he said. "And we want to recognize the loss of life here. This is a distressing moment for both the officers as well as the family. However, we are grateful that no one else was injured."
The LMPD Public Integrity Unit is investigating the shooting, and LMPD is expected to release body camera footage of the incident in 10 days. That's standard protocol anytime officers are involved in a shooting.
Two years ago, Louisville launched a Crisis Diversion Team to help when 911 calls show signs of mental distress. The city made an effort to send a non-police response when someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, addiction issues or hallucinations.
MetroSafe said deflection cannot help in situations where there are safety concerns, so if there is an active threat involving a weapon, police respond to the scene.
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