LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four people were arrested Friday during a brawl that erupted in a Jefferson County courtroom.
Arrest records said the incident happened during a hearing for Paul Wade, the man accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Alexis McCrary and 26-year-old Edward Smith in the Russell neighborhood on Sept. 10.
Deputies said when Wade was being escorted back to a holding cell, Joshua Whetstone, Monnetra Cain, Isaiah Smith and Joshua Smith jumped over the courtroom barrier and chased Wade into the hallway.
Judge Anne Haynie presided and said the 4 arrested were with the family of a homicide victim. She said it was "the first time they saw him in custody."
As a deputy walked Wade out, he said an expletive to the family. "And the family reacted to it," Judge Haynie said.
They jumped up to confront Wade as the two deputies in the courtroom tried to intervene.
Wade ran up to the bench, where Judge Haynie said a small door was missing. He ran up past the judge and the teenage girl next to her.
"I had an eighth-grader who was shadowing me," Judge Haynie said. "She wants to be a judge."
Judge Haynie said everyone could have played a role in preventing this from happening. The door could have been replaced, more deputies could have been in the room for the high-profile case, and Judge Haynie even said she could have paused before beginning the hearing to speak with the family and better gauge the emotion in the room.
"The court system is a long process and they are going to have to get their emotions in check, understand what the system is about, but not ever act that way in a courtroom again,"Judge Haynie said.
Instead, the alleged murderer walked up past the judge, followed by the family of a victim, and into a hallway that connected to judges' chambers and an exit.
Police said pepper spray had to be used in the incident.
The four were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental operations. Isaiah and Joshua Smith also face charges of assault and resisting arrest.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
RELATED VIDEO