Ex-Louisville cop involved in protest shooting pleads guilty

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former Louisville police officer blamed for instigating a conflict that led to the fatal shooting of a Black barbecue restaurant owner during the Breonna Taylor protests has pleaded guilty to using excessive force. Steve Romines, a lawyer for McAtee’s family, said they are “glad that there has been an acknowledgment of the gross misconduct of the night of David’s death.” Crews wasn’t “a lone wolf who decided to go rogue,” Romines said in an email Wednesday, arguing that authorities were sent to Louisville’s west end by commanding officers to “violate policies and harass people.” A civil lawsuit brought by McAtee’s family blames Crews and other law enforcement for using aggressive tactics on bystanders who were on private property the night of McAtee’s death. She later told police investigators she was irritated at the photo’s publication, because she saw it as the “media spinning things.” On the night of McAtee’s death, Crews was part of a group of Louisville officers and National Guard members sent to an area near his eatery, YaYa’s BBQ, to break up a crowd. It said Crews and other officers were “spoiling for a fight.” Crews approached YaYa’s and began firing nonlethal pepper balls, which release a chemical agent. Prosecutors later cleared Louisville officers and two National Guard members in a criminal probe into McAtee’s death, saying they were justified in using deadly force because McAtee fired at them.