Louisville Metro Police released the name of the officer who fatally shot a naked, unarmed suspect over the weekend and the chief said he plans to fire him. His name is Nathan Stotts with the 6th division. He was hired in February 2024 and has no disciplinary record.(Scroll down for edited body camera video of the incident, or, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED, you can watch a less edited police version here)Chief Paul Humphrey said he has started the termination process.”This is not an acceptable performance for us…this is not what we teach,” he said Tuesday.After this announcement, police gave more details about what happened before 27-year-old Martin Nitzken Jr. was shot and showed police video.They said he was with his girlfriend and two of her friends at a home in the 3000 block of Cromarty Way Saturday night watching a basketball game.Police said at some point he got agitated for “unknown reasons.” He then assaulted all three women. The women fled to a neighbor’s house for safety and the girlfriend called 911. She told the call taker that Nitzken is bipolar, but had never showed signs of violence during their relationship.She said Nitzken had punched her in the face and ripped hair out of her friend’s head.Deputy Chief Emily McKinley said when Nitzken left the home, he removed his clothes, ripped a shutter from a house and chased a moving car.He also got into a fight with a neighbor who tried to calm him down, police said, and that neighbor dislocated his shoulder. Police previously said they gave Nitzken commands to show his hands, but he ignored them and began to approach. Stotts told Nitzken to stop. “Stop walking towards me. Stop, stop, stop,” he can be heard saying on body camera video.When Nitzken continued walking, Stotts shot him once. Nitzken died at the scene. On Tuesday, the chief said Nitzken was not armed. “I feel for the family of Martin Nitzken. They’re dealing with an unbelievable loss,” Humphrey said.Based on the body camera video, it was three minutes and 45 seconds between the time Stotts fired a shot and EMS showed up to render aid.As for policy, officers are supposed to render aid once the scene is deemed safe.Whether the chief believes the officer should have stepped in faster, that’s yet to be decided.But in general, he said Stotts did not take the right actions.LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit is still investigating the shooting. There is also a criminal investigation underway, and the Commonwealth’s attorney is involved.The decision to terminate and the release of video and details came quickly. LMPD has 10 business days to release video, and they did it just three days after it happened.Mayor Craig Greenberg said he’s appreciative that Humphrey moved swiftly and decisively LMPD moved on this.Humphrey said since the officer was dispatched for a reported assault, LMPD would not have sent a mental health professional in that situation.The mayor said the city will continue to identify ways to better respond to these types of calls.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Louisville Metro Police released the name of the officer who fatally shot a naked, unarmed suspect over the weekend and the chief said he plans to fire him.
His name is Nathan Stotts with the 6th division. He was hired in February 2024 and has no disciplinary record.
(Scroll down for edited body camera video of the incident, or, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED, you can watch a less edited police version here)
Chief Paul Humphrey said he has started the termination process.
“This is not an acceptable performance for us…this is not what we teach,” he said Tuesday.
After this announcement, police gave more details about what happened before 27-year-old Martin Nitzken Jr. was shot and showed police video.
They said he was with his girlfriend and two of her friends at a home in the 3000 block of Cromarty Way Saturday night watching a basketball game.
Police said at some point he got agitated for “unknown reasons.” He then assaulted all three women.
The women fled to a neighbor’s house for safety and the girlfriend called 911. She told the call taker that Nitzken is bipolar, but had never showed signs of violence during their relationship.
She said Nitzken had punched her in the face and ripped hair out of her friend’s head.
Deputy Chief Emily McKinley said when Nitzken left the home, he removed his clothes, ripped a shutter from a house and chased a moving car.
He also got into a fight with a neighbor who tried to calm him down, police said, and that neighbor dislocated his shoulder.
Police previously said they gave Nitzken commands to show his hands, but he ignored them and began to approach.
Stotts told Nitzken to stop. “Stop walking towards me. Stop, stop, stop,” he can be heard saying on body camera video.
When Nitzken continued walking, Stotts shot him once. Nitzken died at the scene.
On Tuesday, the chief said Nitzken was not armed.
“I feel for the family of Martin Nitzken. They’re dealing with an unbelievable loss,” Humphrey said.
Based on the body camera video, it was three minutes and 45 seconds between the time Stotts fired a shot and EMS showed up to render aid.
As for policy, officers are supposed to render aid once the scene is deemed safe.
Whether the chief believes the officer should have stepped in faster, that’s yet to be decided.
But in general, he said Stotts did not take the right actions.
LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit is still investigating the shooting. There is also a criminal investigation underway, and the Commonwealth’s attorney is involved.
The decision to terminate and the release of video and details came quickly. LMPD has 10 business days to release video, and they did it just three days after it happened.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said he’s appreciative that Humphrey moved swiftly and decisively LMPD moved on this.
Humphrey said since the officer was dispatched for a reported assault, LMPD would not have sent a mental health professional in that situation.
The mayor said the city will continue to identify ways to better respond to these types of calls.