An investigation into a police shooting in Independence found the officer was justified in using deadly force, Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said Friday.The shooting happened on June 1 at a subdivision in the 800 block of Ridgepoint Drive.According to Sanders, officers with the Independence and Kenton County police departments responded to what should have been a vacant home. The prosecutor said the officers were called for reports of an individual burglarizing the home.Kentucky State Police say the man inside "brandished a firearm at officers." An officer then fired a weapon, striking the man inside.Sanders said first aid was rendered by police and firefighters, but the man did not survive.Sanders provided an update Friday following an investigation into the police use of force resulting in the death of Jonathan Thompson.According to Sanders, after a complete review of evidence in the case, he did not find a probable cause to believe Sgt. Michael Brock or any other officer at the scene that day violated any Kentucky laws.During the investigation, footage from all involved officers' body cameras was reviewed. In the footage, Sanders said you could see Thompson pull out a handgun and said he could have fired at any moment. Thompson also defied commands from police, Sanders said, and he believed Thompson was a threat to Brock and the other officers.A shell casing was found at the scene of the shooting that matched Thompson's handgun, which Sanders said indicates that Thompson fired a shot during the incident, however it remains unclear when that happened.Sanders said in that moment, Brock was "justifiably in the fear of death" and was "legally entitled to use deadly force to repel the threat to his life and the lives of his fellow officers." He also noted that Thompson provided no opportunity for officers to deescalate the confrontation."Subsequent investigation revealed Mr. Thompson may have been suicidal," Sanders wrote in a release Friday. "Though Mr. Thompson may have intended to use his gun on himself, Sgt. Brock had no way of knowing Thompson's intentions when he raised the gun despite police commands to drop the weapon."According to Sanders, it was reasonable to conclude that Thompson intended to shoot at officers to avoid arrest or to "include officers to take his life."Therefore, Sanders said Brock's decision to shoot was lawful and Brock was justified in the use of deadly force against Thompson.Some neighbors heard police shouting in the confrontation.“They were ‘Come out with your hands up. Come out!’ That’s about all I heard, then the shot, then they fired twice." said Henry Thackett, who lives just across the street.Thackett said Thompson is the same man he saw lurking in the woods behind his home for the past few days."When I saw someone walking around the woods the last couple of nights, it kind of scared me, then when they brought him out on the stretcher. I knew it was the guy hiding out and was homeless," Thackett said.Neighbors say the home has been vacant for quite some time.“This house has been abandoned at least since August of 2018,” said Dale Grigsby. “I know that people have complained about this to city council. I have called the property maintenance people.”WLWT found calls to police dating back to 2012. The extensive list includes burglary calls in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and Tuesday.Several neighbors said they had been trying to get something done about the vacant home for years with no success."It’s really sad, but I do believe had something been done about this two or three years ago, this could have been avoided," Grigsby said.
An investigation into a police shooting in Independence found the officer was justified in using deadly force, Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said Friday.
The shooting happened on June 1 at a subdivision in the 800 block of Ridgepoint Drive.
According to Sanders, officers with the Independence and Kenton County police departments responded to what should have been a vacant home. The prosecutor said the officers were called for reports of an individual burglarizing the home.
Kentucky State Police say the man inside "brandished a firearm at officers." An officer then fired a weapon, striking the man inside.
Sanders said first aid was rendered by police and firefighters, but the man did not survive.
Sanders provided an update Friday following an investigation into the police use of force resulting in the death of Jonathan Thompson.
According to Sanders, after a complete review of evidence in the case, he did not find a probable cause to believe Sgt. Michael Brock or any other officer at the scene that day violated any Kentucky laws.
During the investigation, footage from all involved officers' body cameras was reviewed. In the footage, Sanders said you could see Thompson pull out a handgun and said he could have fired at any moment. Thompson also defied commands from police, Sanders said, and he believed Thompson was a threat to Brock and the other officers.
A shell casing was found at the scene of the shooting that matched Thompson's handgun, which Sanders said indicates that Thompson fired a shot during the incident, however it remains unclear when that happened.
Sanders said in that moment, Brock was "justifiably in the fear of death" and was "legally entitled to use deadly force to repel the threat to his life and the lives of his fellow officers." He also noted that Thompson provided no opportunity for officers to deescalate the confrontation.
"Subsequent investigation revealed Mr. Thompson may have been suicidal," Sanders wrote in a release Friday. "Though Mr. Thompson may have intended to use his gun on himself, Sgt. Brock had no way of knowing Thompson's intentions when he raised the gun despite police commands to drop the weapon."
According to Sanders, it was reasonable to conclude that Thompson intended to shoot at officers to avoid arrest or to "include officers to take his life."
Therefore, Sanders said Brock's decision to shoot was lawful and Brock was justified in the use of deadly force against Thompson.
Some neighbors heard police shouting in the confrontation.
“They were ‘Come out with your hands up. Come out!’ That’s about all I heard, then the shot, then they fired twice." said Henry Thackett, who lives just across the street.
Thackett said Thompson is the same man he saw lurking in the woods behind his home for the past few days.
"When I saw someone walking around the woods the last couple of nights, it kind of scared me, then when they brought him out on the stretcher. I knew it was the guy hiding out and was homeless," Thackett said.
Neighbors say the home has been vacant for quite some time.
“This house has been abandoned at least since August of 2018,” said Dale Grigsby. “I know that people have complained about this to city council. I have called the property maintenance people.”
WLWT found calls to police dating back to 2012. The extensive list includes burglary calls in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and Tuesday.
Several neighbors said they had been trying to get something done about the vacant home for years with no success.
"It’s really sad, but I do believe had something been done about this two or three years ago, this could have been avoided," Grigsby said.
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