Three Laurel County deputies on paid leave following fatal shooting

Three Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies remain on paid administrative leave pending the investigation of a fatal shooting Sunday afternoon.

Kentucky State Police are conducting the investigation into an incident in which 45-year-old Anthony S. McDaniel of London was shot and killed by deputies outside a residence on Ky. 229.

Trooper Lloyd Cochran, public affairs officer at Post 11 in London, said the names of the deputies involved are being withheld as the investigation is on-going.

Cochran said deputies were called to the scene about 2:45 p.m. in response a complaint of an individual shooting a firearm in a residential neighborhood.

When deputies arrived, they located the individual, later identified as McDaniel with the firearm, repeatedly ordering him to drop it.

“McDaniel refused and pointed his firearm in the direction of deputies and began shooting at them striking their patrol vehicles several times,” Cochran stated. “The deputies took cover behind their patrol vehicle and returned gunfire striking McDaniel.”

McDaniel was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team was called in to investigate.

Cochran noted that it is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

The type of weapon McDaniel fired has not been released, though it has been described as a pistol.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said deputies have not had any memorable calls to the residence to their knowledge.

“Nobody can remember being down there for anything,” Acciardo said explaining that law enforcement officers regularly share information concerning individuals and residences that require additional caution.

According to Laurel County Jailtracker, McDaniel had been arrested seven times between September 2000 and June 2008, on assorted misdemeanor charges, including fourth-degree assault.

Acciardo said counseling is being made available to the deputies.

According to a Pew Research Center national survey conducted in 2016, approximately 25 percent of all law enforcement officers say they have ever fired their service weapon while on the job.