A former Louisville Metro Police Department officer at the center of a fatal neighborhood shooting was back in a Jefferson County courtroom Wednesday, where he formally entered a not guilty plea as his case inches toward trial.
Nathan Stotts pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and reckless homicide, according to WLKY. At his June arraignment, a judge set bond at $10,000 cash or $20,000 in property, and during Wednesday's brief appearance Judge Eric Haner scheduled the next pretrial conference for Sept. 22, 2026, per WLKY. The hearing focused largely on scheduling while both criminal and internal investigations continue.
What the video and police account show
Police say officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Cromarty Way in the Klondike neighborhood after multiple 911 calls reporting assaults. Body-worn camera footage released by LMPD shows Martin Nitzken Jr. naked and unarmed as he walks toward Stotts just before the officer fires. Nitzken was later pronounced dead at the scene, as documented by AP.
Department response and leadership comments
LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey has already moved to begin the termination process for Stotts and publicly criticized how officers handled the encounter. Humphrey said some uses of force by officers are justified, but this shooting "was not one of them." The department's Public Integrity Unit is conducting an internal review, and the case will be turned over to the Commonwealth’s attorney, per WAVE.
Court timeline and legal stakes
A Jefferson County grand jury returned indictments in mid-June on the manslaughter and reckless homicide counts, and Stotts was arraigned in late June before posting bond, according to Louisville Public Media. Second-degree manslaughter carries a possible sentence of five to ten years in prison, and reckless homicide carries a possible sentence of one to five years, as reported by AP.
According to the Kentucky Court of Justice (kycourts.gov), interactive reports of historical caseload — derived from the KCOJ case management database — are available online and can be used to research past criminal cases in Jefferson County, including prosecutions involving officers.
Family reaction and wider context
Family attorney Steve Romines called the indictment a step toward accountability but argued the body-camera footage shows "extreme indifference to human life," according to WKYT. City leaders and advocates have pointed to the shooting as another instance of officers confronting residents in mental-health crises and say they are exploring dual-response models and other reforms, per WAVE.
