Kentucky State Police Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting in Nelson County

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (December 26, 2024) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 4 Elizabethtown has been requested by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Nelson County. KSP was contacted just after 1:00 p.m. EST regarding the incident, which occurred in Nelson County.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the NCSO responded to a call for a welfare check at a residence on Margaret Lane in the Coxs Creek Community. After arriving at the residence, they observed a male individual brandishing a firearm on the front porch of the residence. Deputies gave the individual several verbal commands to drop the weapon, which he did not comply. At some point, one of the deputies fired his agency-issued service weapon, striking the suspect in the arm. Medical aid was rendered by the NCSO deputies until the arrival of Nelson County EMS.

The subject was identified as Scott Hart, 51, of Coxs Creek and was transported to the UofL Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies were not injured in the incident. Hart was later released from the hospital and was lodged in the Nelson County Detention Center by the NCSO.

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 have been gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.

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