Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said Friday that two Villa Hills officers were justified in the use of force in a Feb. 20, 2021, death of Randall Lockaby during a traffic stop on I-75.
Lockaby, 57, of Manchester, Kentucky, was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Florence where he died. The shooting took place outside of Villa Hills, but police have county-wide jurisdiction.
Officers Sean Dooley and Jacob Bolton did not violate any laws based upon a review of the Kentucky State Police investigation, said Sanders.
Lockaby was seen drawing a handgun from his waist and pointed the gun at officer Dooley, according to a letter Sanders sent to Villa Hills and KSP officials. Dashboard camera video from Bolton's cruiser and body camera video from both officers captured the entire incident in which Lockaby refused to follow Dooley's commands to step to the rear of the vehicle, according to the letter.
Sanders said Bolton fired after he saw Lockaby point a gun at Dooley. Bolton reasonably perceived the need to use deadly force to prevent Dooley from being shot, according to the letter.
The prosecutor said the officers had a reasonable belief they would be harmed based upon Lockaby's threat to use the handgun on the officers.
Sanders told The Enquirer that he has spoken with Lockaby's family.
"They say this is very out of character for him, and our thoughts and prayers are with is family," he said.
Police started the traffic stop as a speeding incident on I-75, Sanders said.
Investigators found that Lockaby was a convicted felon who was not legally allowed to carry a gun.
Lockaby may have known officers would find multiple handguns in the car, and that he would go back to prison, he said.
"I don’t think this confrontation was anything anyone knew was coming other than Mr. Lockaby," Sanders said.
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