LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Five years after Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Shirley was shot and killed while working security, his parents, Brian and Deborah, are still searching for the person or persons who pulled the trigger.
On Aug. 5, 2021, Deputy Shirley was working security at a car lot at 2:30 a.m. Surveillance video from that morning shows Brandon sitting in his truck when someone approaches the passenger side. A flash resembling a muzzle flash is seen on the video. Shirley's parents received the phone call that no parent ever wants to get.
Not one second goes by in the Shirley household without thinking of him. "We just want our son's murderer," Brian Shirley said.
Police previously arrested two men, Marquis Mitchell and Jesse Johnson, for the murder. However, those charges were dismissed. At the time, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office issued a statement stating, "issues have arisen that deserve further consideration and, in some instances, further investigation."
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney office sent a statement Tuesday,Â
"For over three years, our prosecutors exhaustively worked case 22CR0089. We judiciously applied the same level of care, consideration, and eye toward justice for all parties involved in this case that we would for any criminal case. We weighed the wishes and needs of the family of Deputy Brandon Shirley, as well as those of his colleagues in law enforcement. Those are not lost on us. But, we must also always protect the rights of all parties involved and afford due process. That, too, is in the interest of justice.
Ultimately, prosecutorial decisions for any criminal case must be made in accordance with the amount of evidence available. We proceed forward based on the totality of what can be proven in a court of law through what law enforcement investigations turn up. We therefore made the difficult but necessary decision in 2025 to move to dismiss without prejudice case 22CR0089.
Deputy Shirley, like any victim of crime, deserves nothing more than justice. His family deserves nothing more than justice. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deserves nothing more than justice. Our work will continue unwaveringly to give it to them.
We will zealously work toward a conviction for anyone found to be criminally involved in the killing of Deputy Brandon Shirley should new evidence against a defendant or defendants arise."
The news of the dismissed charges hit Brian and Deborah hard.
"Grieving caught up to me," Brian Shirley said. "So, you know, past couple of years it's been for me... it's been a emotional roller coaster. Is the best way to put it."
Deputy Shirley was buried with full police honors, a funeral his father said more than 1,500 people attended. Five years later, the FBI has taken over the active investigation.
"I spoke to the FBI agent two weeks ago, and she was, you know, just basically, 'we're working on it. We got a lot of cases. We haven't stopped.' You know, it's just taking time," Brian Shirley said.
But Brian is also working on the case himself, like any determined father looking for his son's killer. He has his own theories and is constantly reviewing the files.
"I've got quite a bit," Brian Shirley said. "I've got my son, I've got—I've got every piece of evidence in my son's case on my phone, every bit. 1,089 pieces."
He continues to look at every shred of evidence, hoping the community and the county Brandon served will never forget him.
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