Tragedy and Survival: Officer-Involved Shooting in Lafayette After Domestic Violence 911 Call
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A harrowing domestic dispute in Lafayette culminated in an officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of a local man on the evening of May 1, 2025. Authorities have now released a heavily edited video of the incident, including 911 audio and police body camera footage, in an effort to provide transparency and clarity regarding the fatal confrontation on the 2800 block of Ravenswood Court.
The disturbing encounter began with a 911 call from a woman who, in distress, reached out to authorities as she attempted to leave her husband, 47-year-old Kenneth Smith. The video, posted by the Lafayette Police Department on June 6, opens with the emotional call placed shortly after 9 p.m., in which the woman requested a police escort to safely retrieve her belongings and her 15-year-old son from their shared residence.
“I’m trying to leave, but I don’t feel safe,” she told dispatch. Her voice was tense with fear as she explained that her husband had recently lost his job, was under the influence of alcohol, and had access to firearms inside the apartment. “I can’t talk, I can’t say nothing, I can’t calm him down,” she whispered, pointing to an upstairs window and asking the officers to be quiet to avoid escalating the situation.
Inside the Apartment
Responding officers arrived and entered the apartment with the woman, who led them to retrieve her son and a few personal items. Inside, officers noted the presence of a rifle and a shotgun propped against a wall. The bodycam footage captured tense moments as the woman tried to communicate with her husband, who remained in a nearby room. Just one minute after she notified him that officers were present, chaos erupted.
Shots Fired
At approximately 9:15 p.m., three gunshots were fired from the bedroom where Kenneth Smith was located. The woman and her teenage son fled the room in panic as one of the officers drew his firearm and attempted to return fire while shielding the two from harm. Officers shouted commands for Smith to drop his weapons, but the situation rapidly escalated.
Additional officers arrived on the scene by 9:30 p.m., entering the apartment with a ballistic shield for protection. Upon clearing the residence, they found Kenneth Smith deceased in the bedroom. According to police, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Remarkably, no officers were injured during the exchange, and both the woman and her son were physically unharmed, though clearly traumatized.
Aftermath and Investigation
The officers involved in the shooting were immediately placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure in such incidents. An internal review was conducted by a Lafayette Police Department shooting review board on May 8. The board concluded that both officers followed department protocols regarding the use of deadly force. Only one officer discharged his weapon, as the other was not in a viable position to return fire.
A separate criminal investigation conducted by the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office also determined that the officers acted lawfully and in self-defense. As a result, no criminal charges will be filed against them.
Ongoing Support and Community Response
The Lafayette Police Department concluded the released 8-minute video with a statement reaffirming its continued support for the woman and her son. According to officials, officers have been working closely with the family, connecting them with counseling services, housing resources, and other support mechanisms to help them navigate the aftermath of this life-altering event.
Community members and advocates against domestic violence have expressed both sadness and relief—mourning the loss of life while acknowledging that the timely police intervention may have prevented further tragedy.
This case underscores the complex and often dangerous nature of domestic violence calls, which remain among the most volatile situations law enforcement officers face. It also highlights the importance of accessible support systems for individuals trapped in abusive or high-risk domestic environments.
The investigation is now officially closed, but for one family, the healing journey has only just begun.