Louisville judge sends fatal PRP shooting case to grand jury

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB/WAVE) — A Louisville Metro Police detective detailed a chaotic 911 call Tuesday as a judge found probable cause to move a murder case involving a fatal shooting in Pleasure Ridge Park to a grand jury.

22-year-old Micah Lackey is charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Joshua Starnes on May 30. Lackey is also charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident without rendering aid.

Police said officers responded around 9:39 p.m. Saturday to the 6200 block of Ree Court on a report of a shooting. Starnes was pronounced dead at the scene. Lackey was arrested shortly afterward and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment June 2.

During Tuesday's preliminary hearing, LMPD Detective Austin Allen testified that Starnes initially called 911 after a vehicle ended up in his front yard.

According to Allen, the driver, Lackey, had already been involved in a hit-and-run crash elsewhere in the neighborhood before arriving at the home.

Allen said Lackey's mother later arrived, and Lackey got into her vehicle, where an argument began with Starnes and his wife. The detective testified that yelling could be heard on the 911 recording.

At one point during the confrontation, Allen said Starnes' phone fell into Lackey's mother's vehicle.

"You hear a female yelling 'get the gun,' you hear Micah yell 'he hit me, I'm in the passenger seat,' you hear I believe his mother saying 'I don't care, I don't care,' you hear Mr. Lackey saying 'I didn't do nothing,'" Allen testified.

The detective said a second 911 call came from Starnes' daughter, who reported that her father had been shot.

Lackey's attorney argued there was not enough evidence to support a murder charge, claiming Lackey acted in self-defense.

But Jefferson District Judge Amber Wolf disagreed and found probable cause on the charge.

"Mr. Lackey instigated this, at every single stage," Wolf said. "He was obstinate with his mother, he was obstinate with the alleged victims. He instigated it on every single stage and not only instigated it but exacerbated the problem."

Wolf set Lackey's bond at $1 million. The case is scheduled to be presented to a grand jury in mid-July.