'I'm hit, I'm hit': Video shows LMPD officer shot in Chickasaw, dramatic rescue by fellow cop
Body camera and dashcam video of a Louisville Metro Police Department officer being shot and critically wounded in the line of duty has been released.
It happened on Sept. 7 in the Chickasaw neighborhood.
According to LMPD, Officer Brandon Haley was following a car on W. Kentucky Street when the vehicle turned onto 40th Street and stopped on a sidewalk.
Two people got out and ran.
Officer Haley exited his marked police car in uniform.
As he began to cross the street, someone inside a house unleashed a barrage of bullets at the exposed officer.
"I'm hit, I'm hit, I'm hit," Officer Haley said after being hit at least once in the chest.
From Officer Haley's dashboard camera, sparks can be seen as other bullets narrowly miss Haley.
The wounded cop returns fire while still being shot at, but falls again.
Video then shows Officer Haley willing himself across the street, looking for cover while calling for help.
"Shots fired, shots fired," Haley yells into his police radio.
LMPD Officer Colin Billotto arrives on the scene.
The gunmen start shooting again.
From his body camera, Billotto can be seen returning fire.
Even though both cops are still being shot at, Officer Billotto begins dragging Officer Haley to safety while checking his condition.
"Where are you hit?" asks Billotto.
"My stomach," replies Haley
"Officer Billotto dragged him for almost a block while being shot at and on his knees. His poise in that situation absolutely was critical," said LMPD Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey.
Billotto pulls Haley safely into an alley and begins medical treatment. He seals Haley's chest wound while encouraging the downed officer.
"Haley, stay with me, bud," said Billotto.
Other first responders arrive and help stabilize Officer Haley.
Suddenly, bodycam video shows an unmarked police car come to a screeching halt.
The injured officer is rushed to the car.
"Let's go. Can we get in your car? Let's go, let's go. Get it open, sarge. Get in the car, get in the car," said Billotto.
**WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised.**
Officer Haley is placed in the backseat and taken to UofL Hospital in critical condition.
"It's a very chaotic scene because the two officers primarily involved in this, Haley and Billotto, are not able to communicate because they are going to the hospital. It's chaotic and confusing as to what's going on besides a basic suspect description and where those suspects are," said Humphrey.
After an hourslong standoff, LMPD reported five suspects were taken into custody, and numerous guns recovered.
"For Officer Billotto to do what he did, going into gunfire after an officer has already been shot, the strength to drag an officer, a 200-pound man with gear on, for a half a block, on his knees, while being shot at, to be able to have the poise to communicate and explain to officers what they were responding to. You can see the chaos at that scene and how proud we are of their actions that night," said Humphrey.
While Louisville police have five "persons of interest," no one has been charged with the shooting of Officer Haley, who continues recovering in the hospital, but is no longer in critical condition.