LMPD releases video of officers shooting men in traffic stop, hostage situations

A fatal hostage situation and an escalated traffic stop were the settings of two Louisville Metro Police shootings in December. The incidents occurred within a week of each other and involved three officers who fired their weapons.

On Friday, LMPD released footage of the incidents captured by officers' body-worn cameras, in addition to excerpts from police radio transmissions and 911 calls.

"We owe the affected families a thorough investigation, and we owe a duty to the public to release the video footage while being as respectful to the families as possible," LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

Traffic stop turns into pursuit near Fourth and Central

The first incident happened Dec. 8 at approximately 9:15 p.m. near Fourth Street and Central Avenue.

Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said officers were watching a nearby lot for a known suspect when they saw a 28-year-old man, later identified as Marvin Smith, walking in and out of a store with a handgun. The officers said they also witnessed Smith take part in what they suspected to be a narcotics transaction.

When Smith left in a car, officers followed him and stopped his vehicle in the area of Fourth and Central, near Churchill Downs.

Smith fled the vehicle and officers began chasing him. Police-worn body camera footage shows Smith holding what appears to be a handgun with an attached extended magazine as he flees.

Officers repeatedly tell Smith to drop the gun while they pursue. Humphrey said when Smith pointed the gun in the direction of the officers, Sgt. Joshua Arnwine, who joined LMPD in 2016, fired.

After being shot, Smith fell to the ground, with police telling him to surrender. When Smith appeared to begin raising the weapon at the officers, Arnwine fired again, striking him. Smith briefly tried to flee but was taken into custody by police within a few yards, where officers began giving medical treatment.

Smith was later treated at University of Louisville Hospital. After he was released, Smith was booked at Louisville Metro Corrections on multiple charges, including fleeing from police.

Humphrey said Smith's gun had a round loaded in the chamber.

As part of LMPD policy, Arnwine has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the incident is conducted.

LMPD respond to fatal hostage situation

On Dec. 14 around 8:45 p.m., LMPD officers were dispatched to a house in the 400 block of North 25th Street on the report of a suspect, identified as Kenneth Clark, pointing a gun at people. A caller said she believed Clark, 30, was under the influence of narcotics. Humphrey said LMPD has not yet been able to verify whether that is true.

Body camera footage shows police speaking with people inside the house and learning that Clark allegedly had three people upstairs.

Humphrey said Clark had recently been released from prison and believed one hostage, a 23-year-old man, was "setting him up."

One hostage, whose identity has not been released, was allowed to leave the room and told police he saw Clark pointing a gun at the 23-year-old's head. While speaking with police, the hostage reported Clark was in a volatile, irrational state and was "willing to die" in addition to being prepared to shoot the victim and police officers.

Officers were also able to listen in on a FaceTime call with a female hostage where it was further confirmed that Clark would not let the 23-year-old man leave.

LMPD's SWAT Team was soon called to the scene, but before those officers could arrive, the situation began to quickly escalate, Humphrey said. As officers moved up the stairs, a loud argument can be heard on the footage. According to Humphrey, Clark was trying to have the window blinds closed in the room while also having a muffled argument with the hostages.

"When you hear things like 'I'm going to sacrifice you' or 'I love you, I love everybody,' those are pretty good indicators that this is about to come to an end and some kind of action needs to be taken fairly quickly in order to make an attempt to save this hostage's life," Humphrey said.

A group of officers forced entry, kicking the door open.

The body camera footage does not show a clear view of the shooting. Because the camera is worn on an officer's chest, it doesn't fully capture everything that the officer saw at that time, Humphrey said.

This narration of events is based on what police understand to have happened at this time, Humphrey said. The investigation remains ongoing.

Police say the first shot heard in the footage is Clark allegedly shooting the 23-year-old man in the head. As the victim drops to the ground, officers return fire with between three to five shots. Humphrey said it is unclear right now whether Clark fired any shots at that time.

Two officers fired their weapons at the scene: Shaine Edmondson and Jeffrey Goldman. Both officers graduated from the police academy this year and are part of LMPD's First Division patrol.

The last three shots fired that can be heard in the footage appear to be from Clark inside the room, Humphrey said.

According to Humphrey, Clark is struck by police's gunfire. Clark has a gunshot wound to his head, and LMPD is in the process of determining whether that wound is self-inflicted or from an officer.

Clark was transported to U of L Hospital, where he was still in critical condition Friday. Humphrey said two guns were found and taken from his possession immediately following the shooting.

While the 23-year-old was struck by one of the rounds by LMPD, Humphrey said the wound was after the victim had already been fatally shot by Clark.

"He was shot in the brain (by Clark), which was ultimately going to prove to be a fatal injury and he did ultimately pass from the result of his injuries," Humphrey said.

The female hostage was able to flee the room after the gunfire ceased.

"These officers were placed in a tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving situation and had to make very, very difficult decisions in order to save this victim's life," Humphrey said. "Ultimately, it's a sad day when you lose a hostage."

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD releases police shooting video in traffic stop, hostage situations