LMPD identifies officers involved in fatal shooting in southwest Louisville

Louisville Metro Police has released the names and personnel files of three officers who were involved in Thursday's fatal shooting of a man they say was armed with a knife.

Officers Matt Forbes, Garrett Schmeltz and Kendrick Eaves were among those who responded to a call at approximately 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the 6600 block of Eagle Wood Drive. When police arrived, they found an "agitated" man, Interim Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news briefing shortly after the incident.

Humphrey said officers tried to speak with the man and deescalate the situation after his family members who were present were able to leave the southwest Louisville house.

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The man "armed himself with a knife" sometime during the encounter, Humphrey said, and approached officers. Several officers deployed nonlethal weapons, including foam rounds and a Taser. After those attempts failed, Forbes, Schmeltz and Eaves fatally fired on the man.

Officers rendered aid after the shooting, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man's name has not been publicly released by LMPD or the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

Forbes initially spent nearly four years with LMPD before leaving in late 2019. He was rehired in 2022. Forbes' disciplinary history contains a complaint that he violated LMPD's pursuit policy, but an internal investigation exonerated him. He has received several letters of commendation during his time with the department.

Schmeltz and Eaves were hired at LMPD last year and have had no complaints against them, according to records provided by LMPD. They have also received letters of commendation at LMPD.

LMPD's Public Integrity Unit is investigating the incident. Body camera footage of the incident is expected to be published within 10 business days of the shooting, as per LMPD protocol.

Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed to this reporting.

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 identifies officers involved in fatal shooting in southwest Louisville