17-year-old victim of fatal police shooting in Louisville identified by coroner's office

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the 17-year-old man who was shot and killed May 14 by a Louisville Metro Police officer.

LMPD released body camera video of the incident last week showing a 17-year-old homicide suspect being shot and killed after they said he fired at a police K-9 while being pinned to the ground by several officers. The coroner's office identified him Wednesday as Brandon Marroquin. He died eight days later at UofL Hospital from a single gunshot wound, LMPD said.

Detectives 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 — near Churchill Downs — around 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, as part of a recent homicide investigation.

The detectives waited outside a corner store in the area. When he came outside, they rushed after him. LMPD Deputy Chief Col. Steven Healey said the suspect pulled out a gun and began running. He only got a few steps down the sidewalk before several officers had the suspect on the ground, lying on his side. But while at least three officers held him pinned to ground, the suspect's arm was pinned beneath him, and he was still holding the gun, Healey said.

After repeatedly pleading for him to release the gun, one pop is heard, which Healey said was the suspect shooting behind him toward a police K-9 and his handler. Detective Benjamin Derby, who has been on the force since February 2022, immediately fired from point-blank range, hitting the suspect in the back of the head.

It all happened quickly, so much so that even one of the officers who was pinning the suspect down was confused as to who fired.

"He shot himself," one officer says in the body camera video.

"No he didn't," another officer says.

"No, Jared, I shot him," Derby replies.

"That was the target that was presented to that officer to end the threat," Healey said. "That was probably the safest way to do that. ... He's wanted for a homicide. He has a gun. He is refusing to put it down. He even fires a shot after repeated commands. That was the most effective way — and probably the safest way — to end that situation."

Healey said the gun the suspect was holding was determined through testing to have been used in the homicide of 18-year-old David Martinez near the railroad tracks near Allmond and Louisville avenues in the Highland Park neighborhood.

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