A Louisville police officer has been placed on administrative leave after shooting an unarmed man who tried to hide while officers searched an abandoned house.
Officer Sarah Stumler and two fellow officers were searching the house after receiving reports that a man had entered the building after using drugs outside. The video shows Stumler search behind an old mattress standing against the wall, where 38-year-old Bruce Warrick is hiding.
Stumler commands Warrick to “show me your hands” and immediately fires one shot, hitting Warrick in the gut.
The officers handcuff Warrick and begin to administer emergency care. He is currently in critical condition after undergoing surgery to remove part of his intestines and pancreas, according to the Courier-Journal.
Warrick was not carrying a weapon, though it is impossible to tell from the video. No weapons were found at the scene.
The Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is currently evaluating the evidence to determine if further investigation is needed or if criminal charges will be filed.
After they’ve made their recommendation, the Louisville Metro Police will conduct an internal Professional Standards Unit investigation to determine if any departmental policies were violated.
Officer Sarah Stumler (Photo: Louisville Metro Police Department)
Police policy states that deadly force can be used when officers act in defense of themselves or another and reasonably believe that the subject poses an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury.
Police Chief Steve Conrad said he is reserving judgment until the completion of that internal investigation.
Warrick’s family plans to sue the Louisville Metro Police Department, according to WLKY News.
Stumler has been subject to two disciplinary actions since she joined the force in 2009. She’s also received 12 commendations from the police department and from citizens, praising her for her service and her demeanor.
Activist Christopher 2X spoke on behalf of Warrick’s family at the hospital where Warrick is receiving care. He said that the family knew about Warrick’s drug habit, but that he “was enrolled in substance-abuse classes.”
“What his mother and grandmother have told me about him is that he had trouble with substance abuse but he was a very passive individual,” 2X said. “It was not uncommon when he was depressed or anything like that to go to abandoned houses and sleep there.”
The shooting took place at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 3, and the video was released the next day.
Unlike other high-profile incidents of police-involved shootings of unarmed black men, no protests or riots have taken place in Louisville thus far.
Cops are given attaboys by their own depts all the time, much like military gets ribbons for being part of a unit that gets cited. Only certain commendations mean anything.
What bothers me is that she wound up gut-shooting a man that she cannot see poses her any threat ESPECIALLY while not giving him time to reply. Throw that splittail in where she’s thrown everyone else, BEFORE they are proven guilty.
Why do people think cops use excessive force? Because it’s proven time and again.
I WAS A COP FOR THIRTY YEARS AND WILL READILY ADMIT THAT COPS MAKE MISTAKES LIKE ALL OTHER HUMANS.bUT REMEMBER,THAY ARE FREQUENTLY PLACED IN HIGHLY STRESSED SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MAY DIE IF THEY HESITATE TOO LONG.i GO BACK TO A VERY SIMPLISTIC LOGIC. I BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON ULTIMATELEY TO BLAME IS THE PERSON WHO CHOSE TO SET THE SITUATIONAL EVENTS IN MOTION TO BEGIN WITH. EXAMPLE: A MAN MAKES A CHOICE TO BREAK INTO A HOME TO COMMMIT A BURGLARY OR KILL SOME ONE. THIS IS A DE FACTO CHOICE TO POSSIBLE BE IN CONFRONTATION WITH THE HOME OWNER{ POSSIBLY ARMED].THE HOMEOWNER RIGHTFULLY FEELS THREATNED BY THIS INDIVIDUAL,AND USES DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF{AND HIS FAMILY}THEN THE BUGLAR WANTS TO WHINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING SHOT.REMENBER,HE SET THESE EVENTS IN MOTION AND IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS INJURY.
What is the purpose of showing this video? To allow cop haters another reason to condemn those that protect us? There is no definitive video, so why show it?
Yeah, Thats it. Don’t insist on good police conduct and you feed the left and prove that there is a problem and its all white people and capitalism are to blame. I don’t know where you live but my finger is on the pulse of the people, it doesn’t take much to start a civil war in this country right now and I don’t think Soros is going to be prosecuted anytime soon. So keep stokin it buddy and you’ll get to use your guns for self defense 24/7, 7 days a week. That is one of the worst shoots ever. After reading your comment, I guess we are by in large, monsters.
One of the MANY REASONS that women should NEVER be allowed to be Police Officers.
I was a cop for 12 years and I have know some very competent and dedicated women police officers. Haveyou worn the badge and worked with women officers?
I was an Army Military Policeman and went through the 8 weeks of Basic training and 8 weeks of MP School. Most of my buddies had a Bachelors Degree with quite a few holding Masters and Law
Degrees. These were the “Draft Years.”
Point being, about 90% of my trainee buddies had never shot a weapon pre-Army training. The M-16
training was okay and provided almost two weeks
on the Rifle Range highly-supervised.
The “1911 .45 Auto” training was inadequate and sadly–ridiculous. It’s centerpiece was firing sharpened wood pencils at paper targets three inches
away. It was safe but there were no bullets and no
propellant. BB or Pellet Pistols would have been
better.
Hard to believe yet on “Qualifying Day” the first time that actual .45 cartridges were fired was… in a prone position firing at a paper target 25 feet away.
After the first shot, the red Georgia dirt kicked up
so only the first round could be fired with a clear
clear sight picture.
I was brought up with guns so I was one of two guys
who fired Expert Pistol–in a class of 300 men in our
Company. By 1 PM I was in a taxi going back home 800 miles away with the Captain and First
Sergeant scolding the rest for the poor performance.
It was not their fault truly. They had just needed training similar to the many days at the rifle range.
No wonder so many police officers are messing up with real-life shoot scenarios. Men or women? It
doesn’t matter with proper fire arms training. The danger is putting a 150 pound female officer up against a 325 male brute with no scruples. That’s
not a fair fight so her training must be superior.
Just my thoughts.
a 325
Stupid woman should not have either a gun or a badge!
Stupid Bitch…She should be fired and end up paying him the rest of her life.
“No, really, you’re OK…Really”
I am not defending this officer and I was sick to my stomach watching this poor man get shot. All I know is, every time I have been hiding behind a mattress that is propped up against the wall in an run down house and the police, with guns drawn, enter the house and yell, “SOMEONE IN THERE COME ON OUT, COME OUT, METRO POLICE IF YOU’RE IN HERE COME OUT, SHOW US YOUR HANDS”, I responded immediately by yelling, “PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME, I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU TELL ME, PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME. I share this information with anyone who is unclear how to respond if they find themselves in a similar situation. Please feel free to quote me word for word. I know it works, because, so far, I have not been shot by law enforcement officers.
Love to be on the jury. She would be up the creek without a padder. You don’t shoot when a person hands are up. We have IDIOTS carry guns.
I saw the video and could not see if his hands at all.
I would like to see you try and do that job. You have her convicted on a body cam video that you can’t even see what the suspect is doing or what he may have in his hands. He could have been holding that caulking gun in his hand which in that dark area could be perceived as a firearm. Don’t be so quick to judge as I am sure you wouldn’t want someone to do the same to you.
Looks to me like a case of Glock-Leg, only directed onto the suspect. Just a bit too much pressure on the trigger causing an accidental discharge. The sudden surprise of seeing the hidden suspect caused a finger twitch, hence her “Oh shit!” surprise when the gun went off. If this was a double action revolver or even a double action pistol like a CZ, I doubt this would have happened due to a more deliberate pull needed for firing.
What was she suppose to do possibly get shot in the face to return fire, no ones knows if he had a gun it was dark he was hiding and did not follow orders. Cops are not baby sitters they are doing there job. If you obey the law you have nothing to worry about. Stop hiding , stop resisting and stop being an ass and you won’t get a hot inside of you. Very simple concept.
Damn right. He shouldn’t have been in there much less hiding. Did he really think they wouldn’t find him. Act stupid = get hurt.
I have been a law enforcement officer for more than 36 continuous years. What the video shows is not good for the officer. She simply “prematurely” shot the perp. She recognized her error and immediately uttered “oh shit” after she discharged her fire arm. In her defense we don’t know what she was told about the perp before encountering him. example; if she was told that he was armed or that he had attacked some one previously. Short of that type of information….well her career is over and the Police Dept and city is going to be paying for this young mans injuries for a long time. In essence they will be paying for his drug use for the rest of his life. Ironic the ones who are supposed to be taking him off the street are now going to be the ones paying him to enable his drug use. Sad but true. She should not have shot him, no reason at all. There is an old saying in our profession: “You can never make a BAD Shoot, good. But you can make a good shoot bad” In this case its a bad shoot and there is no way around it. She may have been a great officer, but this one single mistake…a very critical mistake and now her life not just her career is over and forever changed. They should have waited for a K9. the dog would have found him, probably bit him several times and it would all have been well within the limits of their authority and most importantly everyone would have gone home without worries about what happened.
I have been saying this for a while now, Thugs that comply, don’t die!
She didn’t give the poor bastard a chance to comply, she shouldn’t be wearing a badge or carrying a gun. telling the guy he is fine when he obviously isn’t after being shot by her!
When she saw the dark shadow move her survival kick in. A split second of hesitation and not seeing his hands could’ve been her last.
Chie Conrad is doing the right thing. An investigation is needed and restraint is needed until complete.
Maybe this officer should not be handling a firearm. With several commendations and a few disciplinary actions, maybe she needs to be reassigned to where she can do less harm but still do some good.
This incident was unfortunate for Officer Stumler. In today’s political climate where incidents like this are more scrutinized than ever, that probable inadvertent discharge may very well cost her her job. I have no sympathy at all for the idiot ignoring several commands to show himself. I’m sure that the lawsuit will render him and his team of lefty lawyers a nice payday. Prior to the shot, and after, Officer Stumler handled herself in a professional manner. I wish she would have gloved up before starting first aid.
As a 27yr LEO and IOE instructor I promise she’ll go down for attempted. Subject was un armed and was not given time to comply with the officers orders. Furthermore, he didn’t show hostile intent. Hiding cant be considered hostile. 10 yrs ago one of our officers dropped a guy with a tazer in a back room of a structure turns out upon booking the guy was a deaf mute and homeless. Thank of the autracity of this officer dealing with that situation. “Back to the kitchen” comment while being sexist, is correct. However, it will be a prison kitchen.
I guess they didnt like my post….big brother is watching….
Involuntary muscle reaction.
Yup, exactly. Inexperience and lack of training.
Maybe Officer Sarah Stumler should go back to the kitchen where she belongs….
Riiiiight. No male cop would ever do that.
One “Oh shit” like this, wipes out a dozen “Atta Boy’s”. I am pro law enforcement, but these cops are using their firearms too freely, and it has to stop.
Police investigating police come on be real. police too often give other police a pass when they were obviously in the wrong. Any investigations should be done by those who have no ties what so ever with the police!!!!!!!
I can’t or won’t second guess if it was a justifiable shooting or not. I would not want the horror of clearing a building, it would be like a real life game of Doom to me, and every nerve in my body would be on edge. Hiding and surprising police is never a good idea, and if blame must be issued, she would not have shot him if he hadn’t of been there in the first place. She saw movement and reacted, and police are given more leeway because of these exact scenarios, so it was a technically a valid shooting.
Bull! It was NOT technically a valid shooting. She did not give the guy an opportunity to obey her commands. She shot immediately. Yes it is a tough job, no I would not want to do it either but it is the responsibility of the office to be able to handle the stress of clearing a room. The guy gave absolutely no indication of harm to the officer. All he was doing was hiding. She could have backed up and put the door jamb and hallway wall in front of her as a barrier and allowed another officer to help. This would have given the guy the opportunity to push the mattress out of the way so the officer could see clearly that he was not armed and he wouldn’t be in critical condition in the hospital right now.
She should never be allowed to be on the street again. Give her a desk job.
Technically valid, my ass. You’re an idiot. It was plainly and clearly unjustified.
Stupid G, your the only kind of idiot…..hopefully serving on a jury that could save that officer in court. Unfortunately this will not go to trial. She will be fired, and the City will settle the case with the perp.
BS
I hate to say it but it looks like officer Brandon L. Is as much to blame for casually saying clear in that front room when it wasn’t. Everyone has to do their job correctly or the team can suffer. Although dumb ass perp should of called out so he doesn’t get shot by someone who may need more training.
Forced compliance, “show me your hands…(BLAAM) “UGHHHHH thud”.
At least she aimed center mass and not a grape shot. He was real stupid to hide and not just get outside at the officers commands. That just looked painful, deserved of course but, still bad news.
One officer cleared the room the suspect was in. It was on the way out they double checked areas that she found the suspect. There is no split minimum requierment between giving a command and shooting when a threat is perceived.
Her utterance of the word “shit” coud have been in response to anything from being involved in a OIS, maybe he first line of duty shot or trigger creep.
We do know the suspect heard the various orders from the officers since he hid from them and failed to obey. We don’t know the specifics of the origional call and what Dispatch passed. We do know there was adequate cause for the officers to draw firearms before entry and have multiple officers on site before starting the search.
A cop cam can show the event but can’t read a officers mind.
As an avid shooter I know this, firearms are very dangerous. It’s important to stay on the correct end! The easy answer to this situations is this, COMPY! Though criminals will never comply. They will always push their luck to the very end right up until they realize they have no out at which point they will either comply, run, or fight. It’s unfortunate for this dude Office Stumler was a little hasty for whatever reason, stress, lack of training, perhaps both, or just freaked out by someone hiding behind a mattress when supposedly the whole house was cleared. Everyone’s guard was down because the office clearing the room with a mattress against the wall failed! I personally believe it to be an accidental discharge …draw, “show me your hands”, BANG!, SHIT! Hmmm ….who’s going to say! She shot him in the belly for cripes sake.
I believe in body cams. They should be mandatory for “all” law enforcement. Can you imagine how much trouble this officer would be in if not for those cams? It would be a whole lot worse for her trying to explain why she shot an unarmed man. This at least shows she was surprised by the dude. It also will allow for some additional training for the slacker not properly clearing the room.
Comply is the easy answer to slaves.
The real answer is to stop passing thousands of laws we’re not willing to kill to enforce. Get back to having peace officers, not law enforcement.
I’m an avid shooter and hunter and a law abiding citizen and have many friends in law enforcement,so I never expected to be shot by a policeman because I don’t break the law! Like Jim Carrey said in the movie lyer lyer “stop breaking the law asshole”