(WKYT) – A Kentucky family is suing two officers who shot and killed 25-year-old Travis Pratt in Knott County on Sept. 9, 2024 — the same period law enforcement was searching for I-75 shooting suspect Joseph Couch.
Family attorney David Barber said the incident began when a 911 caller mistakenly identified Pratt as Couch, who was wanted in connection with a shooting in London, Ky.
“The guy they are looking for is here. He’s here at Littcarr. He’s at my back door with a knife,” the caller told dispatchers. “The one in London, the one who done the shooting in London.”
Officers responded to mistaken identity call
Barber said the caller reported seeing Couch on a front porch, armed. The report drew an immediate response from multiple law enforcement agencies in the area.
“As you can imagine everybody who’s on that channel from any law enforcement agency in that area starts immediately… high tailing it to get out to Littcarr as fast as they can,” Barber said.
Barber said the man at the scene was not armed and was not Couch. “He wasn’t Joseph Couch. He’s Travis Pratt, who’s having a problem,” Barber said.
Family says mental health crisis went unaddressed
Barber said the night before the shooting, Pratt’s mother had already called police to report her son was acting erratically and that she believed he was in a mental health crisis.
On the morning of Sept. 9, Barber said Pratt heard gunshots before officers arrived, which sent him running into a neighboring home. Officers found Pratt hiding in a bathroom.
Barber said officers had an opportunity to speak with Pratt through the closed door before making entry, and that another trooper offered to intervene.
“They even had another trooper that put on the channel, ‘Hey, I know Travis Pratt. Let me talk to him.’ and they ignored that,” Barber said.
Officers fired 13 shots, lawsuit says
Barber said officers instead opened the door and deployed Tasers, knocking Pratt to the ground. He said Pratt then picked up a broken shower head from the floor before officers opened fire.
“And then they shoot him. 13 shots,” Barber said.
The Kentucky State Police conducted an internal investigation into the shooting and concluded the officers’ actions were justified. Barber said he believes both officers have since returned to duty.
Barber said he believes Gov. Andy Beshear should consider policy changes and independent oversight of KSP investigations.
“Knowing who Governor Beshear is, I would expect maybe he wants to act on this and consider, you know, changing these policies. Maybe have somebody outside of KSP investigate KSP,” Barber said.
The Knott County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police did not respond to requests for comment.