We will forever be grateful for his heroic actions that night," the family said. "On the night Tyler died, Deputy Shirley rushed from his post inside the Hall of Justice and toward the crowd where shots were being fired and tried to provide first aid for Tyler. The family of Tyler Gerth, the protester killed in Jefferson Square, issued a statement about Shirley's efforts to save Gerth's life, saying their hearts break for the deputy and his family "for a life taken far too soon due to senseless gun violence." Remembering the fallen: Louisville-area officers killed in the line of duty in recent years The former EMT, who worked for Louisville Metro from 2015 to 2019, according to the city salary database, was remembered by firefighters, elected officials, his high school alma mater, Fairdale High, and even Louisville City FC, which tweeted that Shirley was a "mainstay" at games and helped ensure a safe experience at soccer games. "I heard five gunshots and a little bit later, I heard all the police cars showing up."Īnother nearby resident, Tonia McDonald, said Shirley would sometimes wave at her from his truck as she returned to her home on Rockford Lane from a late work shift.Ĭondolences for the fallen deputy's family and coworkers poured in Thursday. "I got off work at midnight, so I was already up," Milan said. She said she heard "five gunshots" overnight. And a phone call to the auto sales shop was not immediately returned.Īngela Clark Milan, who has lived on Rockford Lane in Shively for six years, said she'd seen Shirley working from his truck at the shop for about two months. Nearby stores between Kevin Court and Dover Road were closed as of Thursday afternoon. A tow truck removed Shirley’s red F-150 pickup from the Rockford Lane Auto Sales lot just after 2:30 p.m., roughly 12 hours after he was shot. The area around Rockford Lane Auto Sales was largely blocked off Thursday afternoon, as police continued investigating.
Who was Brandon Shirley? More about the Jefferson County deputy shot and killed in Louisville and he got shot," he said, adding Shirley's surviving family members may or may not qualify for federal money designed for line-of-duty deaths. He thought he might be closest to something. "He was trying to check with LMPD radio because there had been other shootings in that area prior to him being shot. His killing was described as a "line of duty death," despite his off-duty status because he was in uniform and "being proactive," Yates said. Any paperwork connected to that off-duty job was not immediately provided. Yates said Shirley had gotten permission to work security at the Rockford Lane sales lot, which hired him because owners were concerned with damage to cars, including catalytic converter thefts and broken windows. "One minute they're thinking he's going to make it and then he's gone." "The family is still dealing with the shock," Yates added. He was taken to surgery, where "his wounds proved to be too extensive, and he did not survive," Sheriff John Aubrey said. Carl Yates, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, told The Courier Journal Shirley was alert and talking when he arrived at the hospital. Shirley received life support assistance from Louisville and Shively officers and EMS before being taken to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment. The dispatcher asks where he's hit and he answers, "I don't know, radio, just start EMS."Ī little over one minute later, the dispatcher asks his status, but there is no response.Ī different person, apparently on the scene, can later be heard reporting a "gunshot to the abdomen." A dispatcher then asks his location and he responds: "2618 Rockford Lane. "Shots fired, shots fired," Shirley can be heard saying. Radio transmissions obtained by The Courier Journal captured Shirley reporting his gunshot wound to dispatchers - and LMPD has said Shirley called in his own gunshot wound by radio. Reaction to killing of Brandon Shirley: 'There is an overwhelming sadness.' Officials react to killing of Jefferson County deputy "If/when more information is available, we will provide the information." And that was the case here."Īn LMPD spokeswoman declined by email to elaborate on the reasoning behind Shields' assessment: "For now, we will allow the press conference to stand as the official statement," spokeswoman Beth Ruoff wrote. In Thursday's press conference, Shields did not provide additional details on why LMPD is confident Shirley was targeted but said, "For police, if someone is really determined to kill you, they're going to kill you.