A former Louisville Metro Police officer has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and reckless homicide following the deadly shooting of a 27-year-old unarmed man in Kentucky. The case has drawn renewed attention to law enforcement practices and the use of force during confrontations.
Grand Jury Returns Indictment
A grand jury in Louisville handed down the charges against former officer Nathan Stotts over the May 30 shooting death of Martin Nitzken Jr. Prosecutors said the panel declined to pursue a murder charge but found sufficient grounds for manslaughter and reckless homicide counts.
Authorities had responded to reports that several women had allegedly been assaulted. Witnesses informed officers that the suspect was unclothed and running through the neighborhood. Body camera footage later showed Nitzken sitting in the roadway before getting up and moving toward Stotts. After ordering him to stop, the officer fired a single shot.
Nitzken was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Leadership Questioned Use of Deadly Force
Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey previously stated that the victim was unarmed and appeared disoriented. According to the chief, the circumstances did not justify taking a life and alternative, non-lethal options should have been considered.
Humphrey had initiated termination proceedings against Stotts after reviewing the footage. However, the officer resigned from the department before he could be formally dismissed. Stotts had joined the force in 2024 and had no publicly known disciplinary record.
Possible Prison Time and Ongoing Scrutiny
Under Kentucky law, a conviction for second-degree manslaughter carries a possible prison sentence of five to ten years. The reckless homicide charge could result in an additional one to five years behind bars.
The case is expected to continue through the Kentucky court system, with local officials pledging cooperation and transparency throughout the legal process. The incident has once again placed Louisville’s police department under public scrutiny as the city continues efforts to rebuild trust with residents.
