April 6, 2023

In light of the recent DOJ report on the Louisville Metro Police Department, the treatment of people with mental illness or disabilities was highlighted in their gross misconduct. Lexington Police Department is no different. In March of 2021, an LPD officer used his police cruiser as a weapon, striking a man with a known mental illness and inflicting a traumatic brain injury. The incident occurred on March 30, 2021 and the body camera footage of the incident was released on April 16, 2021.

The officer’s conduct was justified as a means of securing a suspect, yet life threatening injuries were inflicted on a man running away from police.

Just over a year later, LPD officers responded to what they have said was “a trespassing charge and delayed assault charge.” What ensued has yet to come to light. Various details have been released about the night of September 9, 2022 – but more questions remain than answers.

From the Lexington Police Department’s own statements to the media, Josh Hagans was shot multiple times around 11:47pm. It would be hours later the next morning at around 4:30 am that LPD officers would re-enter the room in which they shot Josh repeatedly. According to a statement from the mortician preparing Josh’s body, there was one shot that was fatal on impact – meaning Josh laid there for hours dying and then deceased while LPD officers were outside the door and did nothing to help him.

When interviewed last month, Ms. Hagans, Josh’s mother, stated that, “I would like them to know that it’s been six months and I still can’t get information on my son’s death. That I reach out to different organizations and no help. And they state investigation team could care less about a grieving family. His case is just a number, but his family has to live with unknown.”

We stand together as a community to demand answers for what happened to Josh Hagans on September 9, 2022. It has been 7 months since this police killing occurred. KSP has had ample time to conduct their investigation and give answers to a grieving mother and community. Release the body camera footage from September 9 and 10 of 2022 involving the police killing of Josh Hagans for the sake of transparency and accountability.

The news reports the events leading to Josh Hagans death at the hands of police as laid out below. News reports are followed by Josh Hagan’s death certificate.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)

9/9/22, 12:56 p.m.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has identified the man killed in the shooting as 40-year-old Joshua Hagans. The report says Hagans died from multiple gunshot wounds.

9/9/22, 11:47 a.m.

Lexington police updated the public on the officer-involved shooting off Tates Creek Road in a Friday afternoon press conference.

Police say two officers were involved in the shooting after responding to a trespassing and delayed assault report. The suspect wouldn’t answer the door, and after officers were able to get in gunfire was exchanged. Officers then retreated.

A negotiation unit was sent out and negotiations lasted several hours. Around 4:30 a.m., officers finally entered the room where they found the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound.

The officer who was shot has been released from the hospital and two officers are on administrative leave pending a KSP investigation.

9/9/22, 7:45 a.m.

A suspect in an officer-involved shooting has died.

Lexington police say officers were dispatched around 10:43 p.m. Thursday to the Extended Stay America in the 3500 block of Tates Creek Road. When officers tried to make contact with the suspect, he fired a gun at the officers and officers returned gunfire.

An officer was shot and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He’s in stable condition.

The suspect was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.

Kentucky State Police are now investigating the incident and more updates are expected to be released later Friday morning.

9/9/22, 1:03 a.m.

A Lexington police officer was shot while responding to a call in the 3500 block of Tates Creek Road Thursday night.

According to the department’s social media pages, the officer was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

Police say this is still an active investigation, and to expect a high police presence in the area.