LMPD SWAT team rips home apart to arrest suspect who was in mental health crisis, family says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Metro Police Department SWAT team removed a suspect from his home this week, but they didn’t use the door.

Police said Brad McKinley, 51, of Louisville, had been firing a gun outside his home Tuesday afternoon in the 1300 block of Bridget Drive in Fairdale. When officers arrived, he ran back inside the house.

His sister, who lives in Florida, told WDRB Thursday that McKinley had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was in the middle of a mental health crisis. She said family members had tried to get him help beforehand and had informed LMPD of his condition, but the family received no response.

On Thursday afternoon, McKinley’s house was hardly recognizable. The front of the home had been ripped apart by LMPD’s SWAT vehicles.

“Oh, my gosh, I’ve never seen anything like it,” neighbor Kassi Wood said. “It was two massive, tank-like trucks with huge hooks sticking out the front of them.”

Wood, who documented the entire incident on Facebook Live, said she heard gunfire on Tuesday and later saw SWAT officers ramming into the house before tearing off the front section.

“I can’t imagine how he felt, especially if he was in that state of mind. I guarantee you he was terrified,” she said.

McKinley’s sister declined an interview but sent WDRB an email expressing frustration with how the situation was handled.

“LMPD was informed of his mental diagnosis as well as his current mental state. Louisville Metro Corrections was also given next-of-kin information and could have reached out at any point,” she wrote.

Neighbors reported that McKinley had been acting unusually in the days leading up to the incident.

“He’d been walking around the neighborhood barefoot. I’m not really sure what was going on with him,” Wood said.

Police said they had a warrant for McKinley’s arrest Tuesday and that he refused to come out of the house.

“After a substantial amount of time without any contact, SWAT made entry into the house and found the suspect hiding in the attic. He was taken into custody without further incident at 7:10 p.m.,” LMPD said in a statement.

Wood described hearing what sounded like pepper bombs or flash-bangs before seeing smoke rise from the house. Eventually, officers entered and arrested McKinley.

McKinley’s sister said the family is now left to deal with the aftermath. She said insurance will not cover the damage, and the house may be torn down by the city.

“Our family is beyond frustrated with the mental health system. And that frustration turns to anger when he is in crisis, like this week,” she said.

McKinley is still at Metro Corrections being held on a $25,000 bond as the family continues to push for better mental health intervention in cases like his.

McKinley is charged with wanton endangerment, and is due back in court on Feb. 20 for a preliminary hearing.

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