Suspect charged in the shooting that injured two LMPD officers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police have charged a Louisville man for the shooting that injured two LMPD officers Wednesday night.

According to the arrest citation, Larynzo Johnson, 26, faces two counts of assaulting a police officer and 14 counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer.

Police say Johnson intentionally used a handgun to fire multiple shots at officers Wednesday night near Brook and Broadway, as they were trying to control large crowds gathered to protest the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case.

Court documents say witnesses identified Johnson as the person who fired the a handgun at police and then ran from the scene. The report says Johnson "showed an extreme indifference in the value of human life" or physical jury to the officers at the scene.

LMPD released the names of the officers who were shot. Major Aubrey Gregory was shot in the leg and has been released from the hospital. Officer Robinson Desroches was shot in the stomach and is recovering from abdominal surgery. Both are expected to survive.

"We are extremely fortunate that these two officers will recover," Interim Chief Robert Schroeder told reporters Thursday morning.

Louisville Metro Police Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches.png — Louisville Metro Police Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Images courtesy LMPD.

Crime scene investigators from LMPD and the ATF examined the gun police found on Johnson, when he was arrested. The citation says the gun matches shell casings found at the scene.

Schroeder said three other officers suffered injuries during the demonstrations. He said a police sergeant was hit by a protester's baton, one officer suffered a knee injury and a third officer was struck by bodily fluids.

"It's been a very emotional time for our officers in our city...for all of us it is a very tense and emotional time," Schroeder said. "Of course they are concerned for the well being of the city, our other officers, and of course, themselves."

In a statement Thursday morning Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer publicly thanked LMPD officers for their response to the demonstrations. He also condemned the actions of the suspect.

"What we saw last night with the two police officers being shot is obviously completely unacceptable," he said.

He acknowledged the pain that some feel after the grand jury's decision in the Breonna Taylor case, but asked demonstrators to recognize "the power of this moment," adding that "you have the attention" of the world.

"What do we do with this pain?" he asked. "There is no one answer...but I do know this: violence is not the answer and destruction is not the answer."

In total, police made at least 127 arrests Wednesday night in Louisville after protests over the grand jury's decision to indict just one of the three officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.

Police say they responded to reports of vandalism, looting and people setting fires in garbage cans during the protests.

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