Louisville officers shot suspect who was holding man at gunpoint in apartment, police say

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A man shot and severely wounded by Louisville police officers in an apartment bedroom last week was making threats and holding a gun to the head of another man, who the suspect shot and killed as officers entered the room, police said Friday.

Officers were responding to a 911 call on Dec. 14 about an armed man pointing a gun at people inside a Louisville apartment. Louisville police initially released few details about the shooting, saying only that two people were shot.

When police arrived at the apartment, they were told three people were in an upstairs bedroom with an armed man they identified as 30-year-old Kenneth Clark. Witnesses told officers Clark was holding a gun to a man’s head and officers heard Clark making threats, Louisville Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said Friday.

Officers decided to breach the door, but Clark shot and killed 23-year-old John Robinson as they entered, Humphrey said. Officers then shot Clark, Humphrey said.

Two other people in the room with Clark were able to get out unharmed.

Humphrey said the officers were in a challenging situation but decided to move in because Clark was escalating his threats to Robinson. Clark remained hospitalized but suffered a head wound and was in grave condition on Friday, Humphrey said.

Police showed officer body camera footage of the shooting to reporters on Friday. Two officers who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave while the department’s Public Integrity Unit investigates their actions.