The jury declined to indict Nicholasville police officer Joseph Horton, who pulled the trigger after what police say were lengthy negotiations with LaDuke, who was having a mental health crisis and – according to police reports – pointed a gun in their direction.
LaDuke’s aunt, Melissa Marks, tells WKYT the grand jury decision has been difficult to process.
"It’s hard because just when you think you’re handling things and you’re getting better and you’re learning to deal with it more, you get constantly hit with new information you’re not prepared to hear," she says.
LaDuke’s family continues to call into question the police account of what happened on October 22, 2022, arguing in a civil suit that LaDuke did not "brandish or raise his gun in a threatening manner at anyone." The family says police actions that day escalated the situation.
The incident has sparked a number of protests in the months since, with demonstrators carrying signs calling for "Justice for Desman."
