Louisville police release bodycam video of two fatal shootings

When officers arrived and knocked on Pierce's door, a dog began barking and Pierce could be heard repeatedly yelling, “Get her!” according to body camera footage.

While standing in the yard, an officer called for Pierce to be taken to the hospital. In the video, Pierce appeared in a doorway on the side of his home with a knife that police identified as a United States Marine Corps combat knife with a 7-inch blade.

According to the video, police repeatedly ordered Pierce to drop the weapon.

The video shows Pierce charging at the officers with the knife and his dog. Officers used a taser, causing Pierce to collapse briefly. He then got up and continued to attack, prompting three officers – Bailey Siegrist, Christine Silk and Noah Sheets – to fire their weapons, police said.

Although Pierce was on the ground, he refused to drop the knife despite police repeatedly asking him to do so, the video shows. While on the ground, Pierce continued to talk to police about a burglary at his home.

Pierce eventually dropped the knife and officers approached him. As he approached, an unidentified officer kicked the knife away and was then observed repeatedly kicking Pierce while he was still collapsed, despite a flashlight obscuring part of the scene.

When asked about this aspect of the video, LMPD spokesman John Bradley said the department's Public Integrity Unit is investigating the entire incident and that “any use of force shown is part of that review/investigation process.”

Officers rendered aid until Pierce was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on May 12.

In accordance with standard procedure, the officers who fired their weapons were placed on leave pending the completion of the internal investigation.

Police shoot teenager in connection with murder investigation

Louisville police release bodycam of fatal encounter with teenager

Recently released bodycam footage from the Louisville Metro Police Department captured the moment officers fatally shot a teenager.

The second incident occurred on May 14 at around 3 p.m. at the corner of Third and Kenton Streets in the Wilder Park neighborhood, where officers were conducting surveillance on a 17-year-old boy suspected of involvement in the murder of 18-year-old David Martinez the week before.

According to Bradley, officers approached the suspect after he left a convenience store to arrest him.

When officers approached him, the suspect displayed a weapon and attempted to flee, police said.

Body camera footage shows the teenager being tackled to the ground by officers, but apparently still holding a gun that was under his body. Police ordered him to hand over the gun, but the suspect refused. The suspect did not appear to speak to officers throughout the entire altercation.

When asked by reporters whether police believe there may have been a language barrier, Healey said that would be determined as part of an internal investigation into the shooting.

After police warned the suspect that a dog would be deployed if he did not drop his weapon, the suspect fired the weapon once, police said. Det. Benjamin Derby, who Healey said was acting as a “cover officer with the option of deadly force,” fired once, hitting the teen.

The gun was recovered from the suspect and he was given assistance until he was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital. He died of his injuries on Wednesday, police said.

The Courier Journal asked if Derby's firing of the gun was consistent with police training, given that several officers were in close proximity to the suspect and were restraining him. In response, Healey said the suspect was wanted for murder and refused to drop his weapon, which he also fired once.

“It was the most effective and probably safest way to end the situation, especially on a crowded street,” Healey said.

The gun recovered from the suspect was later identified by police as the same weapon used in Martinez's murder. The teenager was charged with murder before his death.

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at [email protected] or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.