Police Officer Fired After Fatal Shooting

A police officer in Louisville, Kentucky is facing termination after body camera footage revealed he fatally shot a man who was described as “naked, staggering, and unarmed,” according to the police chief.

Officer Nathan Stotts shot and killed 27-year-old Martin Nitzken Jr. late Saturday night while responding to a call alleging that Nitzken had assaulted his girlfriend and two friends while they were watching TV.

On Tuesday, the police department released body camera and drone footage and announced Stotts’s dismissal, noting he is now under criminal investigation.

Commissioner Paul Humphrey expressed his shock at the footage, stating, “This video shows a naked, unarmed man being shot by a police officer,” and emphasized that such actions shouldn’t occur. “Sometimes you have to make decisions that end a person’s life, but this was not one of them,” he added.

The footage shows Stotts approaching Nitzken, who was on all fours. The officer repeatedly shouted for him to show his hands. Nitzken then stood up and, ignoring commands to stop, moved toward Stotts, who fired a shot. Nitzken fell to the ground, bleeding, and remained without assistance while Stotts was held at gunpoint for about four minutes until an ambulance arrived, at which point Nitzken was pronounced dead at the scene.

This event has raised many questions. The police chief stated, “As police officers, we have a difficult job… This is not an acceptable performance for us.” He extended his condolences to Nitzken’s family, noting the profound loss they are experiencing.

Stotts had joined the department in 2024 and had no prior allegations against him before this incident.

Earlier that night, Nitzken’s girlfriend contacted authorities around 9:30 PM, claiming he had punched her and attacked her friends, prompting them to escape to a neighbor’s house. She also informed dispatchers that Nitzken had bipolar disorder but had never displayed violent behavior before.

Witnesses reported that Nitzken had left the house, stripped off his clothes, and attempted to confront a moving car. Additionally, he got into a physical confrontation with a neighbor who was trying to intervene, resulting in a dislocated shoulder.

Neighbors characterized Nitzken as “definitely mentally unstable.” The chief mentioned that no mental health professionals were present because the incident was initially classified as an assault.

Once the internal investigation concludes, the findings will be forwarded to federal prosecutors to determine if criminal charges will be pursued.