Kentucky State Police has been called in to investigate an overnight shooting involving a Lexington police officer.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers says officers were called to Fifth and Chestnut for a report of a man with a gun. The chief says a man matching the description didn’t comply with multiple verbal commands to stop and instead ran from an officer.
“There was a brief foot pursuit and the officer fired shots striking the subject. The officer was not injured. The subject a 26 year old man sustained what appears to be a non-life threatening injury to his front hip,” said Weathers.
Chief Weathers said the subject is black and the officer white. He was asked why the officer felt it necessary to fire his weapon if the subject was fleeing. Weathers said, quote, “that’s going to be part of the investigation and can’t answer that right now.” He said initial information appears to indicate the officer followed police protocol. Weather said an internal investigation needs to be conducted to confirm that. The chief says the incident was captured on body-worn camera video. The officer will be placed on administrative assignment.
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