Holly MatkinLouisville, KY – An armed suspect was fatally shot by an undercover Louisville Metro police officer after he allegedly attempted to carjack the officer and his partner on Monday.
The incident began at approximately 1:34 p.m. on June 19 as Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) Fugitive Unit officers were searching for a shooting suspect in the area of Griffiths Avenue and 22nd Street in the Portland neighborhood, WLKY reported.
The target, 23-year-old Rex Wright, was wanted in connection with a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 28.
Two plainclothes LMPD officers were sitting in an unmarked vehicle watching for Wright when a suspect in his 20s allegedly approached their car with a gun and tried to carjack them, WDRB reported.
One of the undercover officers shot the suspect during the armed confrontation, LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel confirmed.
Neither of the officers was injured during the incident, WDRB reported.
Chief Gwinn-Villaroel said the officers immediately rendered aid to the wounded suspect before he was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, WAVE reported.
The suspect, identified by his father as Mark Jaggers Jr., succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, according to WDRB.
The identity of the officer who shot the suspect was not immediately released.
The LMPD said he is a 10-year veteran of the department.
The gunman’s father, Mark Jaggers, denied allegations his son was trying to carjack anyone, WDRB reported.
He said his son saw the car sitting in the alley, figured it was stolen, and just wanted to take it out for a joyride.
“That car was sitting here for three hours,” Mark Jaggers told WDRB. “My son thought it was a stolen car.”
He said stolen vehicles are often left abandoned in the area where the incident occurred.
“My son thought it was a dumped car,” Mark Jaggers reiterated to WDRB. “I know it’s still illegal, I know. But it’s not worth getting shot over.”
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) are handling the ongoing investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting.
Wright, the suspect the undercover officers were originally searching for that day, turned himself in to police hours later, WDRB reported.
He has been charged with six counts of wanton endangerment and one count of assault.
