Family of Knott County Man Killed in 2024 Files Excessive Force Lawsuit Against Officers

The family of Travis Pratt is suing Kentucky law enforcement for excessive force in a 2024 shooting. Read about the allegations of failed de-escalation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Mistaken Identity and the Initial Encounter

On September 9, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residential call in Littcarr regarding a man allegedly armed with a knife. According to the lawsuit, the caller erroneously believed Pratt was the suspect wanted for a deadly shooting on I-75 in Laurel County that had occurred just one day prior. Pratt’s attorneys assert that he was entirely unarmed and was actually suffering from a visible mental health impairment when he was cornered by Kentucky State Police Trooper Bruce Kelley and Knott County Sheriff’s Deputy Wesley Bolen inside a bathroom.

Failure to De-escalate

The lawsuit highlights several missed opportunities for a peaceful resolution. It alleges that a fellow trooper who knew Pratt personally attempted to contact Kelley and Bolen via radio to help calm him down, but was ignored. Furthermore, the complaint states that Trooper Kelley escalated the confrontation by forcing entry into the bathroom under the mistaken belief that Pratt was attempting to escape through a window, despite the room having no exterior openings. Although both officers had received specialized crisis intervention training, the family argues those protocols were completely disregarded.

The Fatal Confrontation

After entering the bathroom, the officers first deployed their stun guns, causing Pratt to fall to the floor. While on the ground, Pratt reportedly picked up a broken shower head that was among debris on the floor. In response, Kelley and Bolen fired more than a dozen shots, killing the 25-year-old. The lawsuit contends there was no indication that Pratt posed an immediate threat to the officers and that the situation remained contained, allowing ample time for negotiation rather than lethal force.