LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for shooting at police officers in Shawnee Park during the 2022 Dirt Bowl.
Herbert Lee pleaded guilty to more 20 felony charges in two separate cases on Thursday.
Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) officers got into a shootout with Lee during the basketball tournament as they approached him. Police said they were attempting to arrest him on a number of outstanding warrants.
One of Lee's bullets hit an officer in their bulletproof vest.
The second case Lee pleaded guilty to occurred a year prior to the shooting at the Dirt Bowl.
According to prosecutors, Lee admitted to stealing a handgun from another person despite being convicted with felonies in the past.
Lee will be ineligible for parole.
The federal indictment against Lee regarding the firearm used in the Dirt Bowl shooting has also been dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers said Lee's case is one of the first in the Louisville-area using some of the new provisions under the Safer Kentucky Act.
"[Lee] has proven to be a clear danger to our community, including to the law enforcement officers sworn to protect the people of our city," Whethers said. "This major outcome prevents him from receiving probation or parole at all for his many admitted crimes."
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