Louisville Police Release Bodycam Video After Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves Man Wounded
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police have released body-worn camera footage showing a tense early-morning encounter that ended with a man being shot and wounded after police say he fired a revolver at an officer during a confrontation at an apartment complex.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, when Louisville police officers responded to a call involving an “occupied, suspicious vehicle” parked at an apartment complex. The call was placed by acourtesy officer — a Louisville police officer who lives at the complex and provides security in the area.
According to police, the suspect, 20-year-old Elijah Eubanks, was shot during the encounter and transported toUniversity of Louisville Hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. Authorities confirmed that neither officer was injured during the exchange of gunfire.
Officers Respond to Suspicious Vehicle Call
Police said the officers arrived on scene after being informed that an unfamiliar vehicle was parked in the complex with several people inside. Body camera footage released by the department shows the officers approaching the car and speaking with multiple occupants.
One officer, later identified as Officer Ian Stuart, instructed the driver to step out of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Officer Eric Goldschmidt approached the passenger side, where Eubanks was seated.
As the interaction continued, officers repeatedly asked Eubanks to exit the vehicle. Eubanks questioned why police were focusing on him.
“Why are you harassing me, sir?” Eubanks can be heard asking on the body camera footage.
Officer Goldschmidt responded that police had received a call about suspicious individuals and that no one recognized the occupants of the vehicle.
Eubanks replied that the car belonged to someone connected to the group, gesturing toward another passenger and stating that it was“his mom’s car.”
Encounter Escalates Rapidly
The exchange went back and forth for several moments, with Eubanks remaining seated in the passenger seat despite repeated requests to exit the vehicle. The bodycam footage shows Officer Goldschmidt eventually moving closer to the passenger door.
As the door opens, video captures a critical moment. Eubanks suddenly raises one hand and points it toward the officer. While the object in his hand is partially obscured by shadows inside the vehicle, it appears dark and metallic.
Almost instantly, Officer Goldschmidt shouts, “Gun! Gun, gun, gun!”
Multiple gunshots can be heard in rapid succession on the body camera footage as both officers fire their weapons. Police said Eubanks firedat least one shot at the officer before police returned fire.
Revolver Recovered at the Scene
At a news conference later Saturday afternoon, Louisville Metro Police Major Frank Hardison, commander of the department’s Special Investigations Division, confirmed that arevolver was recovered from the scene.
Hardison said preliminary evidence supports the officers’ statements that Eubanks fired first. Investigators are now working to determine the exact sequence of shots and reviewing ballistic evidence to confirm how many rounds were fired by each party.
“This is still an active investigation,” Hardison said. “But the evidence we have at this time indicates that the officers were fired upon.”
Bodycam Released Quickly in Push for Transparency
Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad said the department made the decision to release the body camera footage quickly due to the seriousness of the incident and recent events involving law enforcement in Kentucky.
“It’s imperative that we are a model of transparency,” Conrad said. “When incidents like this occur, the public deserves timely and accurate information.”
The shooting came just two days after an off-duty police officer in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was shot and killed, an incident that heightened tensions and concerns surrounding officer safety statewide. The suspect in that case was later found and killed by law enforcement officials in Tennessee.
Chief Conrad acknowledged that the broader context of violence against police officers played a role in the department’s decision to release footage without delay.
No Officers Injured
Authorities confirmed that neither Officer Stuart nor Officer Goldschmidt was injured during the shooting. Both officers were placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure following officer-involved shootings.
Police did not release additional details about the officers’ backgrounds or years of service, citing department policy during ongoing investigations.
Eubanks’ condition was described as stable, but police did not release details about the severity of his injuries or whether he has undergone surgery.
Investigation Ongoing
The Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit is investigating the shooting, along with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, which will review the evidence to determine whether the officers’ use of force was legally justified.
Investigators are analyzing body camera footage, reviewing witness statements, examining the recovered firearm, and conducting forensic testing at the scene.
Police have not yet announced whether Eubanks will face criminal charges, though officials confirmed that investigators are preparing a case file for prosecutors.
Community Reaction and Broader Questions
The release of the bodycam footage has already sparked public discussion, particularly around police interactions during suspicious vehicle calls and the rapid escalation of encounters inside confined spaces like cars.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that such calls are inherently dangerous due to limited visibility, unknown threats, and the close proximity between officers and occupants.
“This situation unfolded in seconds,” one law enforcement source said. “Once a firearm is introduced, officers have very little time to react.”
Civil rights advocates have called for a careful and transparent review of the incident, while police leaders stressed that the officers’ actions must be evaluated based on what they reasonably perceived at the moment.
What Happens Next
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to avoid drawing conclusions until all evidence is reviewed. Additional video angles, including any surveillance footage from the apartment complex, may be released later.
For now, the focus remains on determining the precise sequence of events that led to gunfire — and whether the officers’ actions complied with departmental policy and state law.
The case adds to a growing list of officer-involved shootings nationwide that underscore the volatility of late-night calls and the thin line between routine police work and life-threatening encounters.
Further updates are expected once prosecutors complete their review and investigators finalize their findings.
