A 'tragic situation': What we know about the Shively Animal Clinic shooting

Melissa Jackson wishes her grandson would have hid in a closet when chaos started to unfold Sunday at the Shively Animal Clinic. But that wasn't Trent Taylor, she said.

"He was a protector. He loved those people," Jackson said of her grandson, who was killed over the weekend in a shooting at his workplace. "… When people were running out the back door, my baby was running to save them women."

No one has been charged in Taylor's death. He died Sunday evening after being shot during an altercation at the Shively Animal Clinic, where he'd worked with his stepmother for about three years.

Shively Police, the agency that responded that afternoon, said investigators are considering whether self-defense may have been a factor. All parties were accounted for after the shooting, police said, and no danger to the public remains.

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But days later, several questions remain unanswered. Here's a closer look at what we know about the case, based on information confirmed by investigators.

What happened at Shively Animal Clinic?

Shively Police responded to a call about a "verbal altercation" inside the Dixie Highway business about 6:25 p.m. Sunday, the department said at the time. The call was upgraded to a report of a shooting while officers were en route, and a man who had been shot was then taken to University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead that evening.

Shively Police on Monday said all parties were accounted for and there were no outstanding suspects or danger to the community. Just one person was shot, department spokesperson Sgt. Jordan Brown told media members Sunday, though some minor injuries had been reported by others involved in the altercation.

The Monday release from Shively Police said no arrests had taken place "at this time" as an investigation continued, with the Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to determine next steps regarding potential prosecution.

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Shively Police released an additional statement Wednesday that did not offer much more information but noted more than 20 witnesses were present at the time of the shooting, with interviews continuing. And by Thursday, the police department had completed its investigation and presented its case to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office to determine potential prosecution.

"This is a tragic situation. We recognize the community’s desire for additional details concerning the investigation, but it is critical to preserve the integrity of the case," Wednesday's release from Shively Police said. "... The animal clinic was extremely busy that day, and as a part of our investigation we want to speak with everyone who was present."

Taylor handled supplies for the clinic, Jackson said, along with a sibling and his stepmother, who was also at the business at the time of the shooting.

The man killed in the shooting

On Monday, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified Taylor as the person who had been killed.

Taylor, known as "T.J." by family members, was a 21-year-old "avid runner in cross country and track" who had attended Valley High School, according to an obituary from E.M. Coots' Sons Funeral Home. He is survived by his parents, Trent Taylor Sr. and Danielle Beck, along with four siblings – Connor Jackson, Mia Shattuck, Cohen Anders and Triston Shattuck – and a host of other family members and friends.

Taylor's family released a statement following his death thanking the community for its support and describing Taylor as "a pure and humble human being, and a perfect gentleman." He worked hard at Shively Animal Clinic, his grandmother said, with dedication that pushed him to spend his downtime donating supplies to local animal rescue agencies.

"Losing T.J. to such a senseless act has devastated our family and our Shively Animal Clinic family. His death has not only forever changed our lives, but also countless others whether they knew him personally or not," the statement said. "Our son died protecting his coworkers, mother and brother (who are also employees)."

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A GoFundMe account aimed at raising money for Taylor's family to cover funeral costs and other expenses had raised more than $18,000 as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Jackson, Taylor's grandmother, said her grandson was an expectant father, with a child on the way in the fall. He had a rough childhood, she said, but had recently said he was "going to be the best dad (he) can be."

"There’s good and evil in this world, and I believe T.J. would have been such an incredible man of God that the devil had to snuff him out before he could even get started," she said. "… My grandson was too good. He did not deserve to die like he did."

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Shively Animal Clinic shooting: Trent Taylor called 'incredible man'