Louisville security officer fatally shoots man pointing a gun at him
Louisville KY October 18, 2023
A Kentucky security officer fatally shot a man in self-defense after the man pointed a gun at him and his partner in a threatening manner.
The owner of a Frankfort Avenue business said a security guard was acting in self-defense, no doubt about it.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, 30-year-old Christopher Mayes died at the scene of the shooting at 3 a.m. outside The Fox Den Billiards, Bites and Brews at 3814 Frankfort Ave.
In a written statement, Jared Fox Matthews, who owns the business, said Mayes “had been physically and verbally abusive to his (partner), began to threaten her, other patrons, and our staff, and was threatening to retrieve a firearm from his car with the stated intent of causing harm to everyone on property.”
The couple was asked to leave, according to Matthews’ statement, but Mayes “proceeded to physically assault his (partner) in the parking lot of the property until she came to the entrance of our building. She proceeded to hide behind the security guard, at which time the individual in question approached the entrance of the building and drew his firearm.”
That’s when Matthews said the “security officer was forced to respond immediately to this imminent threat, acting in self-defense.” He said the shooting “does not in any way reflect who we are.”
Noting that there has never been a shooting at or near his business in the past, Matthews called the shooting an “unfortunate, isolated incident” and said his prayers go out to everyone involved.
Louisville-Metro Police has not said if anyone is expected to be arrested in the shooting, only that all parties are accounted for and that an investigation is underway.
