Family Sues After Police Raid Kills Laurel County Man: Questions Remain Over Wrong-Home Shooting

By Michael R. Grigsby, Editor | Somerset-Pulaski Advocate

Image courtesy of Karla Ward kward1@herald-leader.com (C) 2025 All Rights Reserved

LONDON, Ky. (SPA) — The family of Douglas Harless, a 63-year-old maintenance worker shot and killed during a police raid last December, has filed a lawsuit accusing officers of fatally targeting the wrong home and violating his constitutional rights.

Filed this week in Laurel Circuit Court, the lawsuit names the London Police Department, multiple officers, and the City of London, alleging unlawful search, excessive force, gross negligence, assault and battery, and wrongful death.

According to the complaint, the incident occurred just before midnight on December 23, 2024, when officers raided 511 Vanzant Road in Lily. Attorneys for the family assert the warrant was actually for 489 Vanzant Road, a different address entirely. The suit describes officers forcing their way into Harless’ home and opening fire, killing him instantly.

“Douglas Harless was not a suspect. He had no record of serious criminal activity,” said the family’s attorneys. “Visible address markers made it clear to anyone on scene that the officers were at the wrong home. Yet, they proceeded, with tragic consequences.”

The lawsuit raises sharp questions about police accountability, jurisdiction, and oversight. It alleges the officers acted outside their authority and failed to verify the address, despite obvious indicators. The underlying case reportedly involved a stolen weed eater, underscoring the disparity between the alleged crime and the deadly response.

Kentucky State Police have not released the search warrant or other key documents, citing an ongoing investigation, leaving the public and the Harless family with unanswered questions.

The Harless family is represented by Tad Thomas, Ashley Abaray, and Nick Horne of Thomas Law Offices in Louisville, along with Howard O. Mann and Amanda and Jeff Hill of Hill & Hill Law Offices in Corbin.

As the investigation continues, advocates and family members are demanding transparency and accountability for what they describe as an “avoidable and senseless death.”