Kentucky cop accidentally shoots man; meant to draw Taser

By Greg Kocher
The Kentucky Herald-Leader

NICHOLASVILLE, Kent. — A Nicholasville police officer accidentally shot a man Thursday afternoon while trying to break up a scuffle outside the police department.

Lt. Bill Jones, a 13-year veteran of the department, was trying to stop the fight when the shooting happened about 2:30 p.m.

Police said Jones intended to use his Taser to stop the fight, but he mistakenly drew his firearm and shot the man one time in the side.

Nathan MacLaren of Baytown, Texas, identified the man who was shot as Michael McCarty.

MacLaren was fighting with McCarty.

MacLaren is the boyfriend of McCarty's soon-to-be ex-wife, he said, and they intended to take McCarty's 8-year-old son back to Texas.

During the scuffle, MacLaren said, he heard a pop sound, but he didn't know where it came from.

McCarty's medical condition was not immediately available.

Copyright 2008 The Kentucky Herald-Leader