By Michelle Ku and Cassondra Kirby-Mullins
Lexington Herald-Leader
Two Eastern Kentucky police officers shot and killed the son of a retired Kentucky State Police trooper after he attacked them with a knife early Thursday morning.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Isaac Whitaker and Martin police Sgt. Brian Ratliff were called to a disturbance at Petry Apartments on Main Street in Martin about 2:30 a.m., said Trooper Scott Hopkins, a spokesman for the state police post in Pikeville.
When they arrived, they found James Anthony Rederick, 38, of Martin standing near his door holding a knife, Hopkins said.
Rederick attacked Ratliff and both officers drew their weapons and shot Rederick, Hopkins said.
Rederick was taken to St. Joseph’s Martin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the Floyd County coroner, Hopkins said.
Ratliff is expected to recover from knife wounds to his neck, Hopkins said. He is listed in good condition at St. Joseph’s Martin Hospital.
Whitaker was not injured in the attack. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Whitaker had worked for the Hazard Police Department, where he had been a captain, before becoming a trooper. He has been employed with the state police for a year.
Rederick is the son of retired Trooper James Rederick. The elder Rederick, who works for the Administrative Office of the Courts in courtroom security, could not be reached for comment.
The younger Rederick had been in trouble before. He had been charged with theft, public intoxication, second-degree wanton endangerment and terroristic threatening, according to court records.
In 2001, he also was charged with two counts of third-degree assault against police officers. However, those charges were later dismissed.
Reach Michelle Ku at (859) 231-1335 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1335.
Rest In Peace Anthony
Prayers are with your family
You were my friend.
This is a tragic story. I pray for all the families affected by this
“The younger Rederick had been in trouble before. He had been charged with theft, public intoxication, second-degree wanton endangerment and terroristic threatening, according to court records. In 2001, he also was charged with two counts of third-degree assault against police officers. However, those charges were later dismissed.”
What mental health treatment was involved in any of this, now or formerly if there was any? Were there any drugs, or does anyone know? Even if they were being called medications? Will that be brought out? I am sorry for this parent, just goes to show how human we all really are!
Sorry for your loss too Chris, I am sure that he was your friend and when he was being friendly or liked someone he probably was a good friend too!
He had been under long term care for a mental illness, and his family had tried to get him a placement at a facility,but were refused in the last few days.
Rederick family, You have my prayers and sympathy in the loss of your son. So sad when we can’t get help for our love ones when it is needed. Looks like you needed help you ask for help but didn’t receive any.
May God’s blessings be with you.
Please pray for Isaac Whitaker. He is such a great person to be going through such a terrible situation! We Love U Isaac!
Deadly force required?… I guess the tasers the police like to use so much were out.
God be with the police officers. I’m very thankful we have dedicated men and women in law enforcement, it’s such frightening work. What an awful experience for all involved.
“He had been under long term care for a mental illness, and his family had tried to get him a placement at a facility,but were refused in the last few days.”
The behavior wasn’t a disease, the behavior was a problem that was treated wrong, long term care, he was probably pilled up on the drug of his choice, whatever he said that he liked the best, whatever he said worked for him, he may have been addicted, and at the point of this incident he may have had some real brain damage attributable to the drugs. Then when he was turned away when he needed help the most that was perhaps the turning point, and who was asking for it him or his family? That may have been where some of the anger came from if they were trying to go against him? Sad for everyone involved, the tasers are dangerous too, okay? The guns more dangerous, the consideration in all of this is that the initial drugs and treatments may have been the most dangerous thing of all?