Lawsuit argues that man fatally shot by Nicholasville police would not have hurt anyone
The mother of a man who died after being shot by police in Jessamine County has filed a lawsuit arguing that her son would not have harmed the officer who shot him.
James Crowe, 27, was shot and killed on Aug. 22, 2019, after Nicholasville police responded to a report of a possible domestic dispute, according to the lawsuit and police.
Police said that Crowe had threatened an officer with a knife before being shot. The lawsuit filed by Crowe’s mother argues that Crowe may have had a pocketknife, but that he did not threaten the officer and could not have hurt the officer from where he was standing.
The shooting happened at a home on Beauford Place, near Main Street in Nicholasville. Kentucky State Police reported at the time that Nicholasville Police Department officers arrived at the home and were confronted by a person who was armed. Shots were fired, killing the suspect who was later identified as Crowe.
According to the lawsuit filed by Crowe’s mother, Crowe was intoxicated and on the second floor of his home when police got there. When he arrived, Nicholasville police officer Travis Steward spoke to Crowe’s fiance, Amy Hicks, outside.
Hicks told Steward that Crowe was “inside, that he had not hurt anyone, and that he did not present a danger to anyone,” according to the lawsuit.
Steward then went into the home and saw Crowe standing at the top of the stairwell, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit argues that Steward, who is the only defendant named in the lawsuit, could not have been hurt by Crowe since Crowe was up the stairs from where the officer stood.
Steward has been working with the Nicholasville Police Department for four years, according to Charles D. Cole, his attorney.
“This tragic incident began in the late night hours of Aug. 21, 2019, with a physical domestic violence call made to 911 by James Crowe’s fiancé,” Cole said in a statement. “Nicholasville police officers Travis Steward and Matthew Godsey immediately responded. The fiancé had fled the home with her children, and Mr. Crowe was first observed hanging out a window, belligerent and appearing to be intoxicated. Mr. Crowe began issuing threats and armed himself with an Ozark Trail folding knife. He charged the officers inside the residence, resulting in officer Steward discharging his firearm. Mr. Crowe died at the scene.”
The shooting was investigated by Kentucky State Police and the evidence was presented to a grand jury in Jessamine County, and neither found “any criminal fault” by Steward, Cole said.
“Based upon the facts, officer Steward’s actions will be defended against all allegations that express or imply any violation of the rights of Mr. Crowe,” Cole said.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Jessamine County Circuit Court in April, before being transferred to federal court in Lexington.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 3:59 PM.
