Herbert Lee sentenced to prison for shooting during 2022 Dirt Bowl at Shawnee Park

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man who shot a Louisville Metro Police officer and was then shot by police at Shawnee Park was sentenced to prison.

Herbert Lee pleaded guilty Thursday to 20 felony charges in two cases and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Those include multiple charges of wanton endangerment of a police officer.

Lee was wanted for three different warrants July 10 when police approached him at the Dirt Bowl tournament at the park in west Louisville. As officers approached Lee, police said he took off running.

Police said Lee pulled out a gun as he stumbled before shooting an officer in the chest. LMPD said officers returned fire, hitting Lee several times. He was taken to UofL Hospital and released before being booked at Metro Corrections.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lee with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Federal prosecutors said Lee has prior convictions that keep him from legally owning a gun.

He is not eligible for probation or parole.

Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers said Lee's case is the first that has been resolved using some of the new provisions in House Bill 5, also known as the "Safer Kentucky Act," that "expand instances where sentences can exclude the possibility of probation or parole."

"This defendant has proven to be a clear danger to our community, including to the law enforcement officers sworn to protect the people of our city," Whethers said in a statement. "this major outcome prevents him from receiving probation or parole at all for his many admitted crimes."

Lee has a long criminal history dating back to 2008. He was convicted of crashing a stolen car during a police chase. Four teenagers in the car were killed. He was convicted of manslaughter and served less than three years in jail.

This story may be updated.

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