Man shot by LMPD during attempted carjacking at Walmart pharmacy drive-thru remains in jail on reduced bond

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The man who was shot by police after he tried to carjack a woman at gunpoint at the Walmart pharmacy drive-thru on Outer Loop is still in jail, but on a lower bond.

Randell Allen, 36, as he stood in front of a judge last Thursday, his hand bandaged from an altercation with the police, was given a lower bond, from $100,000 to $50,000.

LMPD Interim Chief Paul Humphrey, when asked about the lower bond during an interview on WDRB’s morning show Friday, said, “Now he's getting his bond reduced to not have guns. Well isn't that what you said a month ago and now he is involved in this."

There are several factors a judge must consider for a bond hearing — the suspects past criminal history, the nature of the current offense, the suspect's anticipated conduct, if they are a flight risk and a danger to the public.

Allen was convicted of jumping bail in 2018 and according to documents found by WDRB, has a history of not showing up for court.

“Honestly, yes, I was surprised," David Holton, retired Chief judge for Jefferson County, said. “You have a quote, unquote on call judge who sets the bonds initially over the telephone, and those bonds are reviewed. Once the person appears in court, it's a whole new ball game," Holton said.

“I think sometimes we lose our focus and think that the criminal justice system should focus on the offender, what about the victim, deserves just as much justice or more so," said Humphrey.

Allen's bond is $50,000 cash, which means he must come up with the entire amount.

“I mean, there's a possibility that this bond will be sufficient, and this defendant will not be released, and that bond will hold him pending the outcome of the case,” said Holton.

The Jefferson County Court administrator retired Judge McKay Chauvin said bond decisions are set according to law.

“Perception may sometimes be reality, but regardless of how it is perceived, the reality is that a $50,000 full-cash bond is a substantial bond," Chauvin said in an email.

Around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, Kentucky State Police was in a vehicle pursuit that ended with a collision at Outer Loop and New Cut Road. One man in the car was arrested by the trooper, later identified by court documents as Jeremy Bozarth, 44, of Louisville.

Another person in the car, later identified as Allen, was armed with two guns, ran toward the Walmart at that intersection police said.

Humphrey said Allen was inside the Walmart when LMPD officers arrived on scene and located him, at which point he ran outside and jumped in the passenger seat of a car in the drive-thru at the pharmacy. Police made several verbal commands for the man to get out of the car before opening fire, shooting the man multiple times.

A woman was in the driver's seat during the entire incident, Humphrey said.

Allen faces a long list of charges including robbery, fleeing or evading police, wanton endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, resisting arrest and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. He is due back in court Friday, Sept. 13.

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