Body cam video released of LMPD officer shooting suspect holding 'AR-style' gun

0:00 - Intro
1:26 - 911 call
2:50 - Body cam
4:49 - Raw body cam
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Body camera footage released on Monday shows a man turning and pointing his gun at an LMPD officer just before he was fired upon.

The video captures a 36-second chase that includes the suspect and officer leaping over fences and the tense exchanges between the two as they ran through Louisville's Wyandotte neighborhood at 2:30 in the afternoon.

"This is a dangerous job, and it takes a special type of person to be able to do this job and go out here and do it well," said LMPD Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey. "It's not easy, but it is very rewarding. No one wants to go through what Officer Rogers just went through."

LMPD has identified the officer as O'Sha Rogers, a rookie who graduated from the police academy in August, and the suspect as Jaron Bobbitt, a 38-year-old with a lengthy criminal history.

The incident began when Rogers and other officers responded to a report of domestic violence in the 1000 block of Beecher Street.

Body cam footage shows the chase began almost immediately after officers arrived, when Bobbitt takes off and began running through backyards.

Rogers runs past another officer and then jumps over two fences in his pursuit of Bobbitt. The chase quickly ended up on Camden Avenue, the street just north of Beecher Avenue.

Rogers repeatedly yelled at Bobbitt, demanding he drop his gun. At one point, Bobbitt turned around, pointing the gun into the air.

"Put it down!" Rogers yelled, to which Bobbitt responded, "Don't do it!"

Bobbitt turned and ran a short distance before again turning around, and the body camera footage shows him clearly pointing his gun at Rogers.

At that point, Rogers fires four times and Bobbitt crumples to the ground.

Bobbitt was treated at UofL Hospital and then released into LMPD custody the next day to be booked into Louisville Metro Corrections. He's facing multiple charges for hurting the victim and fleeing officers, LMPD said.

Bobbitt has a lengthy criminal history and is prohibited by law from possessing guns.