UPDATE: Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Hardin County
***UPDATE***
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2024) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 4, Elizabethtown, continues the investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Oct. 19, 2024, around 5:09 a.m. EDT.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the Elizabethtown Police Department (EPD) received multiple reports about a male individual inside Baptist Health Hardin Hospital (BHH) possessing a firearm and having made numerous threats to hospital staff and patients. Information was also received that he had fired his weapon inside the hospital before their arrival.
When officers arrived, they encountered several individuals running out of the hospital. Officers then entered BHH and encountered the armed individual in a hallway, later identified as George Lee Jr., 39, of Radcliff. Lee turned toward officers with the firearm and it was at that time EPD officer Lieutenant Alex Ruiz fired his agency-issued weapon one time, striking Lee. Lee was stabilized at the scene and was then transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he remains in critical yet stable condition.
In accordance with EPD standard operating procedures, Lt. Ruiz, a 10-year veteran of the EPD, was placed on paid administrative leave.
These preliminary findings are subject to change as KSP investigators continue this ongoing investigation.
KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, it is KSP standard operating procedure to not release any further details until the investigation has been completed. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
Original News Release below:
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2024) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 4 in Elizabethtown has been requested by the Elizabethtown Police Department (EPD) to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on October 19, 2024, around 5:15 a.m. EDT. Post 4 detectives arrived on the scene and began an investigation into the incident.
The preliminary investigation indicates that EPD received multiple reports about a male individual inside Baptist Health Hardin Hospital, allegedly possessing a firearm that he had fired inside the hospital. EPD officers responded to the hospital, and upon arrival, officers encountered the individual who was armed with a firearm. During the interaction, an EPD officer fired a shot from his agency-issued firearm, striking the individual. The man sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident and was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital where he is being treated. No officers were injured during the incident.
This information is based on the preliminary investigation into this incident and could be subject to change through the course of the ongoing investigation as investigators interview vital witnesses and gather pertinent facts.
KSP was assisted at the scene by Hardin County EMS, EPD and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
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