Death by Cop 2021-2025
Search fatalities
You can use any or all of the fields to refine the search.
David R. Sandefur Jr.
Age : 49
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 07/31/2023
Location : Dan Rd
City : Horse Branch
County : Ohio
State : Kentucky
Agency : Kentucky State Police
Officer(s) :Kelsey Embry
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic dispute call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 07/31/2023, shortly before 8:00 a.m., Kentucky State Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Dan Road in Horse Branch after Ohio County Sheriff's deputies requested assistance. Trooper Kelsey Embry encountered 49-year-old David R. Sandefur Jr. outside the residence. According to Kentucky State Police, Sandefur advanced toward Embry while holding a knife. Embry fired her service weapon, striking Sandefur. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team assumed responsibility for investigating the shooting. The Ohio County Coroner later ruled Sandefur's death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
The investigation was presented to an Ohio County grand jury, which declined to indict Trooper Embry. Kentucky State Police stated that the evidence supported Embry's use of deadly force under Kentucky law. Embry was later returned to duty following the conclusion of the investigation.
Sandefur's family publicly disputed the official account. His widow filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging that he was experiencing a mental health crisis, did not pose an immediate threat warranting deadly force, and could have been safely de-escalated. The suit further alleged that investigators failed to preserve key evidence and challenged the state's description of the encounter. The litigation remained pending after it was filed.
