LMPD chief says officers shot suspect who refused to drop gun in west Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police officers shot a burglary suspect who refused to drop a gun in west Louisville early Tuesday morning.

In a news briefing near the shooting scene, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said officers responded to a ShotSpotter call just before 3:28 a.m. in the 2500 block of Garland Avenue.

"When officers arrived they could hear additional shots being fired," Gwinn-Villaroel said. "The run was updated to a break-in in progress. The preliminary information we have indicates that when officers arrived they saw a suspect coming out of a window with a handgun."

Gwinn-Villaroel said the suspect then took off running with officers behind him.

"Officers gave verbal commands ordering the suspect to drop the gun," she said. "The suspect did not comply. Officers discharged their weapons, striking the subject several times. Officers immediately rendered life-saving aid."

Police said a victim inside the home wasn't hurt.

The suspect was taken to UofL Hospital in critical condition. Dr. Keith Miller, a trauma surgeon at UofL Hospital, said that designation means there is "some ongoing threat to life."

"... oftentimes, in the hospital settings, it means that there are interventions being done and ongoing that are potentially replacing the organ function," Miller said Tuesday.

Gwinn-Villaroel said the scene was still active as they worked to determine if there were additional suspects in the home. She asked the public to avoid the area, and several streets were blocked by police vehicles, but no additional arrests were made.

A post on X from LMPD said the scene was cleared around 10:15 a.m.

In ref to this morning’s OIS. SWAT has cleared the scene. There is no further danger to the public pic.twitter.com/EfGQjYgyUB
— LMPD (@LMPD) October 24, 2023

During Tuesday's news briefing, the chief said the situation is "yet another example of the trying times we face as a community with the senseless gun violence. We are fortunate that the victim was not hurt, and none of the officers were hurt."

Gwinn-Villaroel said body-worn camera footage will be released within 10 business days. She asked that anyone with security video of the incident or any information to call the crime tip line at 502-574-LMPD (574-5673).

Miller and Gwinn-Villaroel touched on the prevalence of guns and shootings in Louisville. For anyone in the community not sure how to help, Miller recommends regular blood donation and taking a Stop the Bleed class, which teaches people how to provide car to someone who has been shot.

To find a class near you, click here.