LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
A suspect is in custody after the Wednesday night shooting of a Louisville Metro police officer during a foot pursuit in the 3200 block of Kemmons Drive, police said.
The suspect, Justin Haycraft, 18, was taken into custody just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the same area as Wednesday night’s shooting.
Neighbors said they were relieved to hear of the arrest and described the scene Wednesday night as chaotic.
“Oh my goodness, it was and it was so scary pulling up cause I was completely clueless,” said neighbor Tamela Johnson.
Sixth Division officers responded around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after several neighbors called to report a suspicious man trying to get in several doors.
When officers arrived, they saw a man nearby who fit the suspect’s description.
According to Police Chief Steve Conrad, when an officer lit the suspect with a spotlight and asked him to stop, the man refused and took off running. As officers chased the man around the corner, they were met with gunfire.
“I do not know the exact number of shots that were fired but the officer fell to the ground, realized he had been shot in the foot. He was in the position to try and return fire and the suspect was already gone,” Conrad said.
Officer Brad Shouse was taken to Unifor treatment. He is expected to make a full recovery.
“We’re just truly blessed and fortunate. This could have been significantly worse than what it was. Officers face danger on a daily and nightly basis and we’re blessed to live in a community where we have so many men and women willing to face those kinds of dangers to try and keep our community safe,” Conrad said.
Conrad said Shouse has served with LMPD for more than three years.
Neighbors said the suspect and his girlfriend had only lived in the apartment for a few months.
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