Judge to consider lowering bond for Louisville man stopped with AK-47, body armor after threat to kill family

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – An Oldham County judge said Thursday he will rule soon on whether to lower the bond for a man police say was stopped with body armor and a small arsenal as he was allegedly on his way to kill his family.

Attorney Robin Bennett argued in a motion filed last week that Kenneth Gregory has no criminal history, including even a minor traffic offense, and the current $100,000 bail is "excessive to ensure his appearance at court and the continued safety of the public."

A prosecutor asked Oldham Circuit Court Judge Jerry Crosby for ten days to respond to the request, and said he "absolutely" disagrees with lowering the bond in this "very significant and disturbing case."

Crosby said once he issues his initial order on the current motion, the parties could argue the ruling in a hearing where they present evidence.

Bennett – along with Gregory's family - has argued that Oldham County police should have taken Gregory to a mental health hospital instead of arresting him on four charges of attempted murder. She has had family members testify in court that he was only a danger to himself and they had put out a mental inquest warrant.

Oldham County Police say they prevented a mass shooting when Gregory was stopped not far from a family member's home.

The prosecution has indicated the bond needs to be higher.

Police stopped Gregory on May 20 armed with a loaded AK-47 and a 9mm handgun, as well as several loaded AK-47 magazines and 9mm magazines — a total of about 400 rounds of ammunition — and body armor in the truck.

And prosecutors played a voicemail in court in June from Gregory to his father. "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill your wife. I'm going to kill your **** family. … And I'm on the way to do so right now," according to the audio.

A body cam video played during the June hearing showed Gregory's stepsister in hysterics about the threats to kill her and other family members.

In a call Gregory made from jail, that was played during the hearing, he told his father he was on suicide watch "because of you." His father said "you want to kill your family, what the **** is wrong with you? ... You need to quit blaming us for your decisions in life."

However, Gregory's stepmother, Christine, testified she never feared Gregory would hurt the family after they got into an argument on May 20. She said she called police "to get him help," adding that he has refused to get mental health treatment in the past.

"He's threatened to kill us before, but never acted on them," Christine Gregory said.

She said she asked police why they didn't just take Gregory to the hospital but was not given an answer.

And Christine Gregory testified that he had all of the weapons in his vehicle because he had been at the Knob Creek Gun Range.

Gregory's father, Kenneth Gregory Sr., also testified that his son had been at a "shooting class" on May 20 and they had invited him to dinner before he became angry and they asked him to leave.

Kenneth Gregory Sr., with tears in his eyes, said his son told him so many times he didn't want to live that he became immune to it.

"I should have done more," he testified.

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