Family of Kentucky Man Fatally Shot by Police Files Lawsuit Alleging Excessive Force and Cover-Up

 Family of Kentucky Man Fatally Shot by Police Files Lawsuit Alleging Excessive Force and Cover-Up

Attorneys in Louisville are standing behind the family of Charles Christopher McClure, a western Kentucky man who was fatally shot by police in 2017. The shooting, which took place in the small town of Fulton, was captured on an officer’s body-worn camera. The footage, recorded on January 16, 2017, has since become a central piece of evidence in a lawsuit filed by McClure’s family.

According to police reports, 43-year-old McClure was seen swinging a metal pole at parked cars and shattering windows in a neighborhood in Fulton. The pole, his attorneys admit, had a knife taped to the end of it. They also acknowledge that McClure was struggling with mental health issues at the time. His legal team says he was emotionally distraught, particularly over his inability to see his children, which may have triggered his erratic behavior that day.

When the Fulton Police Department was called to the scene, McClure allegedly began targeting the police chief’s SUV, smashing it in frustration. As the situation escalated, the police chief called for backup. Moments later, Officer James “Buck” Buckingham arrived on the scene. According to attorneys representing McClure’s family, within seconds of arriving, Buckingham opened fire and struck McClure.

McClure was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. His family’s legal team argues that the shooting was not only unnecessary but also amounted to excessive use of force. They maintain that McClure posed no immediate threat to the officers or the public at the time he was shot. They further claim that his behavior was a clear sign of mental distress, not criminal aggression.

“This was a man in crisis, not a violent criminal,” said Larry Forman, one of the attorneys representing the McClure family. “There were better ways to handle the situation. His life did not have to end that day.”

What has further inflamed tensions is the claim that the shooting involved more than just a snap decision in a tense moment. The attorneys allege that after McClure was already down on the ground, Officer Buckingham walked up to him and fired a final, fatal shot at point-blank range. Forman referred to it as an “execution shot,” insisting that there was no justification for the final round being fired.

“I think the brunt of the lawsuit really stems from the fact that after Chris is on the ground, ‘Buck’ comes up to him, and from point-blank range, without any justification, no reason whatsoever, fires an execution shot,” Forman said.

In addition to the shooting itself, McClure’s attorneys are accusing the Fulton Police Department and Kentucky State Police investigators of engaging in a cover-up. They claim that after the incident, officers and investigators worked to justify Buckingham’s use of deadly force in a way that misrepresented the facts of what actually occurred.

As a result of these allegations, McClure’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Officer Buckingham, the City of Fulton, and the Kentucky State Police. The suit seeks damages for wrongful death, violation of civil rights, and the alleged efforts to conceal misconduct.

The case is expected to draw further attention to the ongoing national conversation about police accountability, particularly in cases involving individuals with mental health challenges. Supporters of the family argue that law enforcement needs more training and alternative tools when responding to situations involving mental health crises.

The attorneys say they are committed to ensuring that McClure’s death does not go unnoticed or unchallenged. “This is about justice,” Forman said. “And about making sure no other family has to go through what this family has suffered.”

The lawsuit is currently pending, and more details are expected to emerge as the case proceeds through the courts.




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