FRANKFORT, Ky. ⁠— Cabinet Secretary Michael Brown announced new findings from the death of David McAtee, a local business owner killed during an officer-involved shooting June 1. 

What You Need To Know


  • Shot that killed David McAtee fired by National Guard

  • 9mm pistol found on scene, had been fired twice

  • Gunshot residue found on McAtee

During Gov. Andy Beshear's daily (D) press briefing, Brown announced the bullet fragments recovered from McAtee's body match the bullets carried by the National Guard. 

“Our crime lab was not able to match up the particular bullet fragments with a particular rifle,” said Secretary Brown. “But we do know the caliber and type of ammunition and we know that night those rounds were only fired by one agency, and that was the Kentucky National Guard, responding to the fire that they had received.”

Last week Brown reported McAtee was killed by a single shot to his chest.  Further autopsy findings still support that initial finding.

Brown also said a 9mm pistol was found inside McAtee's business and had fired at least two bullets, and a matching shell case was found outside the business's entrance.

“We have no doubt about that Mr. McAtee’s weapon was tested and the shell casings we found outside the door came from that weapon,” he said, adding that McAtee was tested for gunshot residue and those reports came back positive.

Even though residue was found on McAtee, Brown could not say what kind of gun the residue came from.

“One of the particles found was consistent with a firearms discharge,” Brown said. “Five other particles were consistent with him either handling or being around a weapon that had been discharged.”

During the presentation, Brown said the Kentucky State Police (KSP) would do a frame-by-frame review of all video.  More than 3,000 frames. 

We have added Brown's entire presentation at the briefing to this story. It includes pictures of evidence found at the scene.

McAtee's visitation and funeral will be this Friday and Saturday. There will be a public viewingd 1 p.m. – 8 p. m. Friday at St. Stephen Baptist Church. His funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Canaan Christian Church and he will be buried at Green Meadows Cemetery. Masks will be needed at both St. Stephen and Canaan Christian Churches. 

 

David McAtee Shooting