LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Body camera footage released Wednesday shows Louisville Metro Police officers shoot and kill an armed man after responding to a report that he pointed a gun at a woman and took her dog.
Police responded to the 9000 block of Red Deer Circle in the Hurstbourne Acres area, just northwest of Hurstbourne Parkway and Taylorsville Road, around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, on a report that a white man wearing no shirt pointed a gun at a woman in the apartment complex, Deputy Chief Ryan Bates said at the time.
During a news conference Wednesday releasing body camera footage of the incident, Bates said responding officers were told the man pointed a gun at a woman and took her dog.
Officers from LMPD and Hurstbourne Acres police responded. Video from Sixth Division officer Austin Taylor's body-worn camera shows police responding to the scene and speaking with the victim to get a description of the suspect as officers began searching the area.Â
Body camera footage from an officer identified as "Officer G" shows police telling LMPD they responded to a welfare check on the suspect — identified Monday by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as 32-year-old Casey Barnes — earlier in the day on a request from his employer because he hadn't shown up for work in two days. He reportedly told police that "he was fine."Â
After that meeting, Bates said "Officer G" sees Barnes, who was armed, and alerted the other officers as he ordered Barnes to put the gun down. Bates said Barnes raised the gun at the officer, who moves for cover as Taylor and Sixth Division Officer Michael Crowe respond to the courtyard.
Body camera footage from "Officer G" shows him walking through the apartment complex when he spots Barnes standing near a stairwell with his gun pointed toward the officer. As the officer takes cover, gunshots can be heard coming from the area where the suspect was standing. "Officer G" never fired his gun during the incident.
Taylor and Crowe's body camera footage shows them enter the courtyard, turn the corner and spot Barnes with the gun. They order him to drop the weapon. When he doesn't, they open fire.Â
The footage shows officers approach Barnes, who is on the ground, as another officer tells residents coming out of their apartments to stay inside. That officer and Taylor also conduct a welfare check on the apartment unit directly behind the scene of the shooting.
Officers began rendering aid to Barnes, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
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.Â
In personnel records released Sunday, Dec. 7, LMPD said Crowe was a Metro Corrections officer that was hired by the department in 2017. His records include multiple commendations and one letter of reprimand for a March 2021 non-fatal police shooting behind a Walmart in the Bashford Manor neighborhood.
Crowe was reprimanded for violating standard operating procedure when he "traveled at a high rate of speed without lights and sirens activated and failed to stop at a stop sign."
Crowe was also reprimanded for violating procedure when he didn't ensure his WVS or wearable video system was "in proper position to record involvement" in the vehicle pursuit and use of force. His body camera video was obstructed by his bulletproof vest. However, the use of deadly force in the exchange of gunfire with the suspect was justified by the investigation. Crowe also received a letter of commendation for the same incident for saving the life of a fellow officer that had been shot by the suspect.
Records released by the department show Taylor was hired by LMPD in 2020. He also has multiple commendations. His only reprimand was for missing court dates.
Per department protocol, Taylor and Crowe are on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.Â
This story may be updated.
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Louisville police say officers shot and killed armed suspect at east end apartment complex
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