Years After Breonna Taylor’s Death, Louisville Faces Another Tragic Police Encounter as Officials Release Footage of Deadly April Confrontation….Read more

Years After Breonna Taylor’s Death, Louisville Faces Another Tragic Police Encounter as Officials Release Footage of Deadly April Confrontation

Louisville, KY — Nearly five years after the death of Breonna Taylor ignited national protests and a reckoning on police accountability, the city of Louisville is once again grappling with the aftermath of a deadly police encounter that has stirred public outrage and renewed calls for reform.

On April 20, 2025, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers responded to a disturbance call in the Crescent Hill neighborhood. According to initial reports, 34-year-old Ahtume McCollum was allegedly wielding a knife and acting erratically when officers arrived. What followed was a tense and chaotic confrontation that ended with Officer Benjamin Klingenfus fatally shooting McCollum.

This week, LMPD officials released the body-worn camera footage from the incident, sparking widespread reaction from the public, activists, and community leaders. The footage, which was edited for public release, shows officers shouting commands at McCollum, who appears agitated and confused. Within seconds, a shot is fired. McCollum collapsed and later died from his injuries at University of Louisville Hospital.

The video release comes amid mounting pressure on the department for greater transparency in the use of force. Mayor Craig Greenberg called the incident “deeply tragic” and pledged a full internal investigation, stating, “We owe the public clear answers. We must examine not only what happened but also why it happened — and whether it could have been prevented.”

The family of McCollum is demanding justice, describing him as a father, a community member, and someone who had struggled with mental health issues. “He needed help, not bullets,” said his sister, Alesha McCollum, during a press conference held outside Metro Hall. “This city promised change after Breonna, but here we are again — another Black life lost at the hands of those sworn to protect us.”

Civil rights groups, including Black Lives Matter Louisville and the ACLU of Kentucky, are calling for an independent investigation by the Department of Justice. “This is not an isolated incident,” said activist Jamal Taylor. “It’s part of a pattern of violence, especially when it comes to Black residents and mental health crises.”

The LMPD has faced intense scrutiny since the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor, who was shot in her home during a botched narcotics raid. That case led to national protests and significant reforms, including the banning of no-knock warrants and the implementation of body cameras for all officers.

Still, critics argue that progress has been too slow and uneven. “Policy change is not enough,” said Dr. Angela Morris, a criminal justice professor at the University of Louisville. “What we’re seeing is a systemic failure in how police respond to crises — especially those involving mental illness. Until the culture changes, these tragedies will keep happening.”

A public vigil for McCollum is planned for this weekend in Jefferson Square Park, the same location that became the epicenter of protests in the wake of Breonna Taylor’s death. Organizers say it will be a moment of mourning, but also a renewed call to action.

As Louisville once again finds itself in the national spotlight, many residents are asking the same question: How many more lives must be lost before real change takes root?