Body camera video shows LMPD shoot armed man after ShotSpotter call in Russell neighborhood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Body camera footage released Monday by Louisville Metro Police shows an officer shooting a man who reached for his gun during an incident in the city's Russell neighborhood.

Asa McNealy, 30, was charged with wanton endangerment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon after a confrontation Dec.18 with police on West Chestnut Street .

LMPD said the incident started with two back-to-back calls for service alerted by ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system, near 23rd and West Chestnut streets at 11:17 a.m.

During a news conference Monday, Deputy Chief Ryan Bates said officers were on scene about four minutes later.

Body camera footage from First Division Officer John Heisler shows him arrive on scene and encounter McNealy, who takes off as Heisler exits his police cruiser.

Heisler tells dispatch he "has one running" and provides a direction of travel and description of McNealy as he makes his way through what looks like an abandoned garage. He soon finds McNealy in the backyard of a home on Chestnut Street.

Heisler gives McNealy multiple verbal commands to put his hands up and not reach for anything. McNealy can be heard telling officers he has a gun.

[WATCH: LMPD 23rd & Chestnut Officer-Involved Shooting from 12/18/25]

Heisler continues giving verbal commands as McNealy repeats he has his gun. He radios that McNealy is armed, "refusing to cooperate" and asks for a less lethal option.

McNealy raises his right hand only and Heisler commands him to put up his other hand. He's then seen reaching into his waistband with his right hand as he lifts his left hand. That's when Heisler fired multiple times, hitting McNealy.

While McNealy is on the ground, Heisler tells him not to move as he requests ballistic shields so he can approach.

In body camera footage from an officer identified only as "Officer W," the officer can be yelling "don't reach for the gun Asa, don't reach for the gun" and tells him to show his hands. Officer W runs to his cruiser to grab a less lethal option at Heisler's request when shots are heard in the background.

Because of a lack of cover and the suspect's access to the gun, officers were initially unable to approach McNealy, Bates said.

Body camera footage from an officer identified as "Officer M" shows police using the ballistic shields for cover as they approach McNealy and continue giving commands for him to show his hands.

Officers secured McNealy's handgun, and he was placed in handcuffs as officers began rendering aid. According to McNealy's arrest citation, the gun was a semiautomatic handgun (Glock 35). Bates said a magazine and some spent shell casings were also collected from the scene, which matched McNealy's gun.

Louisville Fire and EMS arrived and took McNealy to UofL Hospital in downtown Louisville in critical condition, where he remains. Bates said Monday that McNealy was still critical but "stable."

"It is important to note the short timeframe from dispatch to the arrival on scene," Bates said. "A short time lapse would make it more likely that an armed suspect would still be in the area. From the time the officers were dispatched to when the officer discharged his firearm was approximately five minutes."

Heisler, who has been with LMPD since 2019, was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, per department protocol.

LMPD's Public Integrity Unit will take the lead on the investigation and will work with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Kentucky State Police will also conduct an investigative review and the city's Office of the Inspector General will get a copy of the investigation. LMPD's Professional Standards Unit will conduct an administrative investigation for potential policy violations.

McNealy is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Jan. 7, according to court records. That date could be rescheduled with McNealy still in the hospital.

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