Louisville Man Charged Federally After Shooting Officers During Civil Unrest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville man who shot two police officers and fired multiple rounds at other officers during civil unrest in Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with civil disorder, announced United States Attorney Russell Coleman. 

“This conduct put the lives of police, protesters, and everyday people at risk and will not be tolerated in the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.

“Working with Louisville Metro Police, ATF provided investigative resources and technical assistance that in real time linked the crime gun to the trigger puller,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division.  “That assistance led to the arrest of Larynzo Johnson – who now faces charges in state court for shooting two Louisville Metro Police Officers.  This violent act, taken against officers who were protecting the city during a time of civil unrest, is unacceptable.  ATF is grateful for our courageous law enforcement partners who risk their lives every day to protect our communities.”

Larynzo Johnson, 26, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with civil disorder under title 18 USC 231 (a)3. 

According to the criminal complaint, on September 23, 2020, a large group of protestors which had been deemed an unlawful assembly were reported traveling by foot on S. Brook St. towards Broadway. LMPD’s Special Response Team (SRT) was deployed in an attempt to control the movements of the group and to disband the large number of protestors. Police reports throughout the day identified criminal activity, such as, multiple arson attempts at the Hall of Justice and other locations, protestors throwing bottles at police and others, property damage, smashing windows, and shot fired.

At 8:21 pm multiple gunshots were identified at College St. Shortly thereafter LMPD responded to a large group gathered at Brook St. and Broadway, two blocks north of where the shots were detected. LMPD Special Response Team (SRT) deployed aerial crowd control devices, after they’d been deployed gunshots were reported and two LMPD officers had been shot. 

According to the complaint, protestors identified the shooters appearance to police. A man matching that description was identified as Larynzo Johnson and arrested. Johnson was arrested by SWAT at the scene and found to be carrying a Smith and Wesson pistol 9mm luger, model SD9VE. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Forensic Laboratory confirmed that fired cartridge casings collected at the scene were fired by the same Smith and Wesson pistol. 

An investigation of publicly available social media accounts by Homeland Security Investigations revealed Facebook user “RiotHeartMedia” captured the shooting incident on video while documenting the protests live. 

The statutory maximum penalty is 5 years in federal prison. 

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  The charge set forth in a complaint is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a Court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Public Integrity Unit.