‘Devastated’ community reacts to lack of charges in Doug Harless police shooting
Organizers in the Southeastern Kentucky town of London were rocked Friday by a decision from a Laurel County grand jury not to file any charges against the police officers who shot and killed a man in 2024 while allegedly serving a warrant to the wrong address.
Douglas “Doug” Harless, 63, was shot and killed by officers in his home on Vanzant Road two days before Christmas 2024. Officers with the London Police Department were acting on a warrant, which has not been released to the public, in connection to stolen lawn equipment.
The officers who fired on Harless have never been publicly identified, and only one, a detective, was named as part of Friday’s proceedings.
The shooting led to immediate backlash with vigils and protests being held in Harless’ honor and in an effort to demand accountability.
“We’re obviously devastated,” said Jamie Burns, a community organizer who has been holding monthly vigils on Main Street in London to pressure city leaders to seek justice. “This has been going on for 14 months now, and the fact that it’s taken 14 months to get here is ridiculous in itself. But for this to be the outcome, it’s ... it’s just very distasteful.”
Friday, a grand jury filed into a fourth-floor courtroom in London and delivered a “no-bill” for a detective who was on the scene the night Harless was killed and anyone else who may have been involved in the shooting.
A no-bill means grand jury members believe there was not probable cause a crime was committed, and therefore, no charges should be filed.
Russell and Wayne counties commonwealth’s attorney Matthew Leveridge, who was appointed by the state attorney general’s office as a special prosecutor in the Harless case, said he provided the grand jury with “everything we know at this point.”
It’s not clear yet what details were presented, but Burns said she suspects the presentation centered on the shooting itself, not the decisions by law enforcement that led law enforcement officers to Harless’ door.
A mix-up in addresses led officers to Harless’ home at 511 Vanzant Road in Lily, though, according to police dispatch audio and activity call logs, they intended to search a different home about 250 feet away.
“If they should have never been at his door in the first place, then your focus shouldn’t be on the shooting,” Burns said.
Leveridge told the Herald-Leader he presented “everything we were aware of” and the grand jury heard “extensive evidence” to reach their conclusion that no charges should be filed.
Kelly Gibson, who was raised in London and makes the drive south back to her hometown each month to attend the vigils, said she was not surprised by the outcome.
“This is exactly how the city and state have chosen to handle this case from the beginning,” she said.
Kentucky State Police reportedly concluded their investigation of the shooting late last year. Community organizers the Herald-Leader spoke to Friday said they are not giving up the fight for justice over Harless’ killing.
Meanwhile, Mayor Randall Weddle and the London Police Department remain under federal investigation due to alleged misuse of a federal criminal information database, and Burns said she believes the FBI will uncover evidence that will bring some semblance of justice and peace to Harless’ family.
The Harless family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several officers believed to be at his home the night of his death.
