LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An officer in the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections was found shot dead in the Russell neighborhood Sunday morning.

Michael Saye Wehdah, 44, was identified Monday as the victim of a fatal shooting near West Muhammad Ali Boulevard. 

Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley said police responded to a report of a person down in the 2700 block of Cedar Street around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Police found Wehdah, whose cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was last seen by his family on Saturday after finishing his shift.

"Officer Wehdah had a bright future at LMDC that has been cut short," Louisville Metro Corrections Chief Jerry Collins said.

Wehdah, a Liberian immigrant who gained citizenship in the U.S. in 2022, lived Louisville with his wife and teenage son. He enrolled in the Louisville Metro Corrections Academy in August of last year and officially became an officer in November.

"Our hearts are broken for his family," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said during a news conference Monday. "We miss him dearly and we will continue to miss him dearly." 

LMPD Lt. Les Skaggs said Wehdah went to work at LMDC at 6 a.m. Saturday. He returned home sometime after 3 p.m. that same day.

It's not clear whether the motive of the shooting is related to his job at the jail, investigators said.

"When he returned home, his family was there, and a short time later, they left," Skaggs said. "That is the last time someone we know who knew Michael saw him alive. The family attempted several times Saturday to reach Michael unsuccessfully." 

Police are asking for anyone with any possible information to share what they know.

"Specifically, if they spoke to Michael on Saturday, if they knew him and spoke to him, we would like to talk to them," Skaggs said. "If they talked to Michael, we would like to speak with you."

LMPD's Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.

If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673) or submit a tip on the anonymous Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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