State officials provided and update Monday on the ongoing investigation into the June 1 shooting death of Louisville restaurant owner David McAtee during a demonstration against police brutality.
“The governor vowed from the beginning there would be a quick, thorough investigation committed to the truth,” said J. Michael Brown, secretary of Gov. Andy Beshear’s Executive Cabinet. “The community, all who were involved and the families of all of those involved deserve the truth.”
Brown noted that Beshear, immediately following the shooting, authorized the Kentucky State Police’s Critical Incident Response Team to quickly investigate McAtee’s death. Previously, Brown reported that based on preliminary autopsy results, McAtee was believed to have died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Kentucky State Police was able identify the caliber and type of ammunition involved in McAtee’s shooting. Only one agency, the Kentucky National Guard, fired those type of rounds that night (in response to shots being fired at their personnel).
Brown also previously reported that a 9mm pistol McAtee brandished, seen in videos from inside his establishment, YaYa’s BBQ Shack, clearly shows McAtee was armed with a handgun, which could later be seen falling to the ground after he was shot.
McAtee, 53, had gunshot residue on his hands, and two shell casings found immediately outside the doorway were found to have been fired from McAtee’s gun, officials said, indicating the decedent did indeed fire his weapon.
“Today, I am reporting that the Kentucky State Police investigation is substantially complete and is now being turned over to the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for review,” Brown said. “That file is also being shared with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, although they are conducting an independent investigation.”
He said the governor’s office was asked not to comment further on the case as the investigations continue.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
