Louisville police give update on recent homicide cases, provide insight on Fairdale SWAT response

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- During its bi-weekly press conference, the Louisville Metro Police Department addressed a number of issues including this year's homicide numbers, response in a recent SWAT incident, and community safety.

LMPD Homicide Cases

LMPD is investigating three homicides that have occurred since Sunday, including the killing of metro corrections officer, Michael Saye Wehdah.

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

On Monday, a man and teenager were shot in the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood. The man was died at the scene, and the teenager was taken to UofL Hospital for treatment.

On Tuesday, a man was found shot to death in a vacant building in the Park Hill neighborhood. LMPD confirmed the victim was a missing person LMPD had asked for help finding last week.

Despite the violent week, police say homicides are down compared to last year. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 17, LMPD recorded 10 homicides. That does not include Monday or Tuesday's homicides, which brings the total to 12 homicides.

In the same time period, Jan. 1 to Feb. 17 in 2024, LMPD recorded 16 homicides.

LMPD said non-fatal shootings have also dropped by about 35%.

“It is very reassuring to be just about two months into the year, to have that kind of difference in numbers,” said LMPD Lt. Les Skaggs. “That’s a huge benefit for us because we’re able to focus more time on those cases we have.”

Skaggs said because there have been fewer homicides, it has helped LMPD close more investigations.

"In 2024, we closed 67 homicide cases. In 2025, that number has risen to 74, meaning we've closed seven additional cases from the previous year," Skaggs said. "Homicide investigations take time, resources, and effort. We continue to ask for patience, though we know that is a difficult request for victims' families."

Shively Police is also investigating a fatal triple shooting that occurred near Dixie Highway Monday evening.

LMPD Explains SWAT Response in Fairdale

LMPD also explained its reasoning behind a SWAT response, that ended with a man's house torn apart.

Last week, police said Brad McKinley, 51, of Louisville, had been firing a gun outside his home in the 1300 block of Bridget Drive in Fairdale.

On Wednesday, Sgt. Aaron Browning, said McKinley has been reported for firing into two houses on the street with a shotgun, and later shot at a neighbor with a handgun.

Based of its investigation, LMPD determined McKinley had booby-trapped his yard with explosives. Police also learned McKinley had military experience with sniper training, a previous employee at a gun range, a history of drug use, and experiencing a mental crisis.

"Some of the most alarming intel was he had hand grenades dynamite and access to automatic weapons inside the house," Browning said.

Given the circumstances, LMPD said it was not safe to dispatch its deflection team which responds to reports of someone in mental distress.

LMPD said its training takes account multiple factors, including the safety of civilians, responding officers and the suspect.

Given McKinley lived in a residential area, Browning said police notified neighbors to leave the area or remain inside. Police then surrounded McKinley's residence and tried to get him to leave on his own.

When he didn't, police used drones and found McKinley was hiding in an attic. Police said McKinley refused to leave again, so LMPD then deployed a chemical agent as an effort to force him out.

When none of that worked, it then went in with the armored vehicle, known as a Bearcat.

Once SWAT deployed that vehicle, LMPD said McKinley hung up his rifle and surrendered himself.

Despite the destruction LMPD maintains it was the safest way to get McKinley out alive.

"So it's important to know that we took all these steps to force him out of his stronghold where he was armed with a rifle," Browning said. "If we would have just sent officers inside there, we would be having a different press conference right now. So we are talking about property damage and the preservation of life."

LMPD said it recovered 34 rifles and handguns, five grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammo from inside.

"There's no doubt in my mind that they (SWAT) saved that gentleman's life. So again, we're talking about property damage and not the loss of life. So, that's why we did what we did," Browning said.

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