Police release video of shooting amid criticism

Moving to quell criticism of the fatal shooting of a black man by a Louisville Metro Police officer a day earlier, Police Chief Steve Conrad on Sunday released video of the incident and identified the officer involved.

Conrad said Officer Nathan Blanford acted in self-defense when he shot Deng Manyoun, whom the chief said had a "dangerous instrument."

The surveillance video taken from the Smoker's Smoke Shop shows Manyoun stumbling across Oak Street as Blanford pulls up in his squad car. It shows the officer getting out of the car and talking to Manyoun, who then walks out of the picture but re-emerges with a flagpole and swings it down near Blanford, striking the squad car. Blanford — who drew his revolver as he appeared to watch Manyoun's actions off camera — then fires his weapon and Manyoun falls to the sidewalk outside the shop on Fourth Street, near the intersection.

Blanford, 40, who is white and has been with the department since 2005, remains on paid administrative leave pending an investigation of the shooting, police said.

Police said that Manyoun, a 35-year-old African who lived in the 1200 block of Brook Street, was shot twice. Deputy Jefferson County Coroner Robert D. Jones said Manyoun died as a result of gunshot wounds at University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3 p.m.

Conrad said it was his understanding that Manyoun did not speak or understand English. But he defended Blanford's actions, saying the officer did not appear to violate department procedures.

"I believe looking at the video, he (Blanford) did not have the opportunity to transition to another option," Conrad said. "It would appear to me based on my viewing of the video that he felt threatened, that his life was in danger, there's a man swinging an eight foot metal pole at him. You see in the video he's coming down in what I would describe as a sledgehammer-like motion towards the officer."

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The chief said it is unclear to investigators at this point, however, whether Blanford was struck by the pole during the 45-second confrontation. He said the officer did not request to be taken to the hospital after the incident and declined to comment when asked if Blanford sustained any injuries.

Meanwhile, activists who met Sunday afternoon at the Carl Braden Center, 3208 W. Broadway, to discuss the incident questioned Blanford's use of force.

Organizer Chanelle Helm said she and others want to know why Blanford "did not use other weapons on his belt," such as "a Taser, mace, or his baton."

"The officer went first to kill a man with his gun," she said. "He did not subdue him."

But Conrad said at the press conference that making split-second decisions is one of the most difficult part of a police officer's job. He emphasized that the department's use of force policy does not require officers to allow suspects to "gain an advantage" and that they are allowed to use reasonable force to protect themselves and others from serious bodily harm.

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"Officers to the extent possible utilize an escalating scale of options when they are deciding to use force," he said. "But you need to understand that officers are not required to use one option and then the next option, they can move ahead to another option if it appears to be reasonable given the circumstances of the situation."

Police policy outlines seven levels of force available to officers, including the use of wrist locks, punches, a TASER or their firearm.

Helm said the officer's reaction could be understood if Manyoun was "a criminal with a gun."

"You're telling me you can't defeat a person with a flag pole who seems to be intoxicated?" she said. "An officer is supposed to be trained to protect people. He lost all type of control."

According to his personnel file, Blanford has received 18 commendations since being on the force and has had no disciplinary action besides a verbal and written reprimand and one-day suspension for court attendance.

The police's Public Integrity Unit is still canvassing the area to obtain any further footage from area businesses and interview other possible witnesses.

Conrad said internal investigators have yet to interview Blanford, but plan to this week.

Jere Downs can be reached at (502) 582-4669, @JereDowns on Twitter and Jere Downs on Facebook. Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at (502) 582-4475, follow him at @phillipmbailey on Twitter.