Martin Nitzken Jr., 27, of Louisville, Kentucky, was shot and killed on May 30, 2026, by Louisville Metro Police Officer Nathan A. Stotts near the Klondike and Buechel neighborhoods. The shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Cromarty Way after multiple 911 callers reported an alleged assault, several injured people, and a naked person moving through the street. Callers said Nitzken had assaulted at least three people; one person reported a woman’s hair had been ripped out and another said a man’s shoulder had been dislocated. A girlfriend reportedly told a 911 dispatcher that Nitzken was bipolar and had not shown violent behavior before that night, and a neighbor described him as appearing to be in the middle of a mental break.

Body camera footage released by police shows Officer Stotts approaching Nitzken with his gun drawn while Nitzken was sitting or lying in the roadway. Police say Stotts ordered Nitzken to show his hands and to stop; when Nitzken stood and moved toward the officer, Stotts fired one shot. Nitzken was unarmed, dropped to the ground, and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The footage also showed Stotts did not render aid for several minutes after the shot.

If anyone witnessed the incident on Cromarty Way or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.