LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man convicted of killing a construction worker and shooting a police officer in the face could spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Friday, a jury recommended Keyshaun Stewart receive two consecutive life sentences for the November 2021 shooting on Interstate 264 near Dixie Highway. Stewart was found guilty but mentally ill on all charges, including murder, attempted murder, attempted assault of a police officer, wanton endangerment, and fleeing or evading police.
Stewart opened fire on 37-year-old Freddrick “Freddie” O’Bannon while he was sitting in his vehicle at a construction zone on the Watterson Expressway just before 3 a.m. O’Bannon, a father of five, was killed.
Prosecutors said Stewart then walked over to an LMPD cruiser and shot Sgt. James “Chris” Lane in the face. Lane pursued Stewart, returned fire, shot him, and took him into custody.
O’Bannon’s mother, Anita, and Sgt. Lane have formed a bond through the tragedy.
“I have to forgive him because I refuse to walk around with hatred in my heart. I will never forget him, but I have to forgive him,” Anita O’Bannon said outside the courtroom.
Lane described their connection as deeply meaningful. “If there’s any silver lining to come out of this tragic situation, it’s the extended family that I’ve gained. Relationships forged in that kind of fire tend to be very strong, and I care a lot about Miss Anita and her entire family,” he said.
In court, Stewart remained expressionless as family members, including one of O’Bannon’s daughters, gave victim impact statements.
“You changed three people’s families’ lives that night. You almost ended the life of a police officer. You ruined your life as well,” said Ja’Niiya O’Bannon.
O’Bannon emphasized that forgiving Stewart doesn’t mean forgetting. “It’s about refusing to carry hatred and finding a way to heal. I also pray his family gets the help they need because this affected all our families,” she said.
A judge will have the final say on Stewart’s sentence, with a formal sentencing date set for Dec. 1.
Lane, who survived the shooting, later filed a lawsuit against the Kentucky Department of Corrections, claiming Stewart should have been in jail at the time of the attack. Stewart had previously been sentenced to five years probation in 2019 for burglary and drug charges and was later arrested in Tennessee for aggravated assault and arson. Lane’s lawsuit states that his probation officer did not report the new charges.
Lane faced further tragedy when his wife, Erendida, who supported him through his recovery, died in a car crash in January 2024. Their teen daughter was also seriously injured. Lane and Erendida had been married for 19 years and had two children. She had been an English teacher, and Lane met her while serving in the U.S. Marines.
Leave a Comment