Emergency protective order not effective after LMPD says son fatally shot father in Middletown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The man charged in a fatal shooting in Middletown Wednesday had a troubled past with his father.

Brandon McQuillen, 43, is charged with murder in the shooting of his father, retired Jefferson County reserve deputy John McQuillen, 65.

Last August, both men filed emergency protective orders against each other. At that time, John McQuillen claimed his son Brandon McQuillen physically assaulted him, pulled a knife on him, and threatened to kill him.

"Everything he just said is false, and he just committed perjury," Brandon McQuillen told Jefferson County Judge Dee McDonald during the hearing.

"Did you ever threaten to kill him?" the judge asked.

"No, ma'am," Brandon McQuillen said to Judge McDonald.

Brandon claimed his dad punched him in the face, threatened to shoot him, then threw a large piece of machinery at his head.

"This is just sad," the judge said. "If there's an inkling of truth to what either one of you say, it's just very sad."

Judge Dee McDonald then asked Brandon McQuillen for a second time about threats against his father.

"He makes me out to be a monster, and it's not accurate," Brandon McQuillen said.

"Okay, so you deny ever saying that you would kill him?" Judge McDonald asked.

"Yes, your honor," Brandon McQuillen said.

On Wednesday, police said Brandon McQuillen shot and killed his dad at a Middletown apartment complex on Winter Springs Court.

Police found Brandon McQuillen hours later about 2 miles away and took him into custody.

Due to the outstanding EPO, Brandon McQuillen was not allowed to have a gun nor was he allowed to be within 500 feet of his dad.

University of Louisville law professor Russell Weaver said there is a sad reality when it comes to protective orders.

"Someone who wants to kill someone else can do it," Weaver said. "It's hard to stop."

Weaver said getting an EPO against someone they feel is dangerous, is still a good idea.

"It's probably good to get because it does provide some protection," Weaver said. "If the person comes around, you can call the police and the police will intervene. So it does provide potential protection, but its just not absolute."

However, in the McQuillen case, the EPO did not work.

"The bottom line is this, you guys do not need to have contact with each other. And I say that and that hurts my heart because you're relatives," Judge McDonald said.

Brandon McQuillen is now being held in Louisville Metro Corrections on a $1 million bond.

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