A call for help escalated to a Louisville woman who suffered a mental health crisis being shot by the police.Katelyn Hall, 28, died March 27, after Louisville Metro Police Department officers Robert Baker and Robert Gabbart shot her while responding to a call that she was in distress. Police were called to an apartment off S. Hurstbourne Parkway inside their Hall around 7:45. incoherent, agitated and making suicidal statements. The police made the decision to break the door and said that it was when he reportedly charged at them with a sharp object, and two officers responded with gunfire. “I know that it does not need to happen that way,” said Mia Hunter, Hall’s cousin. “I’m a health care worker. I’m a nurse. I work with people who are anxious all the time.”Hunter said Hall was her best friend and “for lifer,” a caring, funny and full of joy Bellarmine University graduate. intelligent, selfless, motivated to always do better than today She lights up every room that she walked into and commanded her attention and even though hers was hurting, she wanted to make sure that Katelyn was not mentally ill, she became more than she was the Salutatorian of her high school class and com committed suicide and she ended up in 2 police officers pulling their trigger and taking my baby away from me Katelyn deserved help, Katelyn deserved to know she mattered, Katelyn did not deserve a bullet Katelyn Taylor Hall deserved more than what she got Katelyn deserves justice. responders. This comes after LMPD said the condition of Hall’s is not suitable for non-police response because of suspected weapons and others present in the house. “I think it’s definitely something that is needed to make sure that we are prepared,” said Cassandra Gray, a therapist with Creative Spirit Behavioral Health. “The way trauma was expressed maybe five years ago is not the same today.” On Monday, Mayor Craig Greenberg said they are assessing the program. “What we can definitely see is their ability to co-respond where there will be mental health professionals and LMPD officers responding,” he said. Experts hope that the changes delve deeper. they’ve learned from this,” said Kilen Gray of Creative Spirits Behavioral Health. “But it’s policy. Katelyn was a person, and we lost her. I always have a personal belief and faith belief that there is always a better way to do something, and I hope that we can find it. “Hall’s family is now looking for answers and justice. WLKY asked what it looks like for them. “The police are responsible for what they did. We’ll see what they did, there’s no way to hide it, and there’s no excuse for their actions,” Hunter said. Body camera footage of the incident is expected to be released in the coming days, while two LMPD officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. Hall’s family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. You can find it here.
A call for help went out to a Louisville woman who was having a mental health crisis after being shot by police.
Katelyn Hall, 28, died March 27, after Louisville Metro Police Department officers Robert Baker and Robert Gabbart shot her while responding to a call that she was in distress.
Police were called to an apartment off S. Hurstbourne Parkway around 7:45 pm
According to them, Hall was locked inside the bathroom, incoherent, agitated and making suicidal statements.
Police made the decision to break down the door and say that’s when he allegedly grabbed them with a sharp object, and the two officers returned fire.
“I know it shouldn’t have happened like that,” said Mia Hunter, Hall’s cousin. “I’m a health care worker. I’m a nurse. I work with people who are anxious all the time.
Hunter says Hall was her best friend and “for lifer,” A Bellarmine University grad who is caring, funny and full of joy.
But he also had a struggle, which the family believes was not met with the right response that night.
Halls’ mother, in a statement, said,
“Despite Katelyn’s mental health, she is full of life. She is beautiful, intelligent, selfless, motivated to always do better than today. She lights up every room that she walked into and commands attention. She has a big heart and even though hers is hurting, she wants to make sure everyone around is ok. Katelyn is not mentally ill, she is more with her Bellatorian high school class. Bachelor’s. We called 911 for help because she tried to commit suicide and it ended in 2 police officers pulled their trigger and took my baby away from me, Katelyn deserves to know that Katelyn Taylor Hall deserves more than what she got.
Hall’s death renewed the conversation about crisis diversion and police response to people in mental crisis.
Behavioral health experts recommend increasing mental health training and awareness for everyone to better understand how to handle people in crisis, especially first responders.
This comes after LMPD said Hall’s condition was not suitable for a non-police response due to suspected weapons and other items in the home.
“I think it’s definitely something that’s needed to make sure we’re ready,” said Cassandra Gray, a therapist with Creative Spirit Behavioral Health. “The way trauma was expressed maybe five years ago is not the same today.”
On Monday, Mayor Craig Greenberg said they are evaluating the program.
“What I can definitely see us seeing is the ability to respond where there will be mental health professionals and LMPD officers responding,” he said.
Experts expect the changes to be more profound.
“My hope is that the person responsible for reviewing this will look at this and have an openness to change policy or practice as a result of what they learn from this,” said Kilen Gray of Creative Spirits Behavioral Health. “But that’s policy. Katelyn was a person, and we lost her. I’ve always had a personal belief and a faith belief that there’s always a better way to do something, and I hope we can find it.
Hall’s family is now looking for answers and justice. WLKY asked what it was for them.
“The police are being held accountable for what they did. We are going to see what they did, there is no way to hide it, and there is no justification for their actions,” said Hunter.
Body camera footage of the situation is expected to be released in the coming days, while two LMPD officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Hall’s family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. You can find it here.
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