LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville Metro Police Department officer is facing termination after fatally shooting an unarmed man during a response to reports of multiple assaults in a residential neighborhood, authorities announced.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said on June 2 that he had initiated termination proceedings against Officer Nathan Stotts following a review of body-camera footage, drone video, witness statements, and other evidence. According to the chief, the officer’s actions did not meet department standards governing the use of force.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 30 in the 3000 block of Cromarty Way. Officers were dispatched at approximately 9:27 p.m. after multiple reports that a man had assaulted several individuals in the area. Police later identified the man as 27-year-old Martin Nitzken Jr. of Louisville.
Investigators said Nitzken allegedly attacked his girlfriend and two other women inside a residence before leaving the home and moving through the neighborhood unclothed. Authorities also reported that a nearby resident suffered a dislocated shoulder during an encounter with Nitzken prior to police arrival.
Officer Stotts, who joined the department in February 2024, was the first officer to reach the scene. According to police, he encountered Nitzken sitting in the roadway and repeatedly instructed him to stop and show his hands. Body-camera footage released by the department reportedly shows Nitzken standing and walking toward the officer before Stotts fired a single shot.
Additional officers arrived shortly afterward and attempted life-saving measures. Despite those efforts, Nitzken was pronounced dead at the scene.
Audio from a 911 call released by investigators revealed that Nitzken’s girlfriend told dispatchers he had suddenly become violent while they were watching television with friends. She stated that he had previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but had not exhibited violent behavior of this nature in the past.
The case has drawn significant public attention as officials review whether the use of deadly force was justified under department policy and state law. While administrative action has been initiated against Officer Stotts, no criminal charges had been announced as of June 2.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit and other oversight bodies. Authorities said additional findings will be released as the investigation progresses.
