Kentucky Man Killed by Police in Botched Search Warrant Execution

 

A man in London, Kentucky, was fatally shot by police officers during the execution of a search warrant on the night of 23 December. Doug Harless, 63, was killed at his home on Vanzant Road, but it appears that the search warrant was intended for a different address. According to audio obtained from local Laurel County emergency dispatchers, the warrant was meant for 489 Vanzant Road, but officers mistakenly targeted Harless's residence at 511 Vanzant Road.

Neighbors and local news outlets reported that the house at 489 Vanzant Road had been vacant for months, raising further questions about the police's actions. Surveillance footage provided by Harless's neighbor shows police arriving at his home shortly before midnight, banging on the door and announcing themselves amidst barking dogs. Moments later, five gunshots were heard. The dispatch audio confirmed that shots had been fired at 489 Vanzant Road, not 511.

Harless received medical attention at the scene but was pronounced dead shortly after. Initially, police did not specify whether Harless had been armed, but a press release issued three days later stated that Harless "produced a firearm and pointed it at officers."

The Kentucky State Police are now investigating the incident, but many in the small town of London are struggling with the circumstances surrounding Harless's death. Friends and neighbors described him as a kind and upstanding individual who did not deserve to die in such a manner. “He’s a great man. He didn’t deserve that,” said Shane Cornett, a longtime friend.

Harless leaves behind a daughter, grandson, and five siblings. His obituary from Hart Funeral Home described him as a beloved family member, with one mourner commenting, “What happened was insane!”

In response to the incident, the officer who shot Harless has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases.

The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, which also involved a botched warrant execution. In Taylor’s case, police entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a drug investigation, leading to a fatal shooting. The case prompted widespread protests and legal actions, with officers facing charges for falsifying information that led to the warrant for Taylor’s apartment.

As the investigation into Harless's death continues, the community remains shaken, and the questions surrounding the mistaken warrant execution continue to linger.