Days after the tragic incident that claimed the life of Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo, a 32-year-old Cuban doctor, shot dead by police in Louisville, Kentucky, his family is questioning the police response. They revealed that he had asked for help due to a mental health episode, but instead of assistance, "they just shot him."
On July 25, around 9:30 p.m., officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) responded to a disturbance call in the 6600 block of Eagle Wood Drive, located in southwest Louisville. Nápoles Ravelo resided there with his family.
In an interview with WDRB, a Fox-affiliated TV station, Joel Nápoles Gómez, the father of the young Cuban, recounted the final moments before his son was killed by three police officers in front of his family.
Mr. Nápoles described how, after waking up that day, his son "seemed nervous" and began cleaning everything. "We thought something was wrong. Throughout the day, he was focused on going in and out of the garage, the house, and the car. Each time he did, he was very nervous," his father explained, with the help of an interpreter. They tried to calm him down as the day progressed, but the situation worsened.
The young man grabbed his phones and attempted to call 911. According to his family, he started making a lot of noise, so they offered him milk and a bath, but he continued going in and out. "What we didn't want was for the police to arrive because sometimes things can be taken out of context," his father noted.
Police Response and Tragic Outcome
According to the father's testimony, a police officer arrived first, followed by another four or five minutes later. While the young man's mother and sister went out the back door to tell the officers they needed help to calm him down, the father stayed inside with him.
At that moment, he noticed his son had grabbed a knife. "I shouted, 'Yoel, what are you doing? You need to put it back.' So he put the knife back," he revealed.
The police report states that officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife, but he refused. The family noted that the young man was not on any medication but was undergoing physical therapy after a car accident in Miami. They said he had asked to go to the hospital.
They also revealed that Nápoles Ravelo had only experienced two previous episodes like this, but never to the extent of the one on July 25. "The police told me they were going to neutralize him," his mother Norgeris Ravelo Alarcón told WDRB. "They never helped him. They just shot him."
"They knew what they did was wrong," his father added. "They just needed to neutralize him, not shoot him."
However, interim LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey stated that officers used Tasers and rubber bullets to try to stop the young man as he approached them before opening fire and killing him.
Last Monday, the Louisville Police Department identified the three officers who shot the Cuban as Matthew Forbes, Garret Schmeltz, and Kendrick Eaves from the 3rd Division.
Nápoles Ravelo graduated with honors in Medicine from the University of Medical Sciences in his native Santiago de Cuba in 2016. He then emigrated to the United States and became a citizen five years ago. He had no criminal record.
"He was a very hardworking person in Kentucky after moving from New York," his father stated.
The case is being investigated by the LMPD's Public Integrity Unit, and the department is expected to release the officers' body camera footage within ten business days, as is customary when an officer is involved in a shooting.
Nápoles Ravelo was born on September 4, 1991, in the province of Santiago de Cuba. "Yoel was a loving and devoted son, brother, and friend. He was an avid animal lover with a heart of gold and a smile that could light up the room. Yoel was very intelligent and dedicated several years of his life to serving others as a general doctor in various countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia. He graduated with honors from the medical university in Santiago de Cuba. Yoel had strong faith and a deep love for God. He will always be remembered and deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing him," reads the obituary published by his family.
The young Cuban is survived by his parents, sister, paternal grandmother, uncles, sister-in-law, and numerous other relatives devastated by his death and the tragic circumstances surrounding it.
Understanding the Incident Involving Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo
In light of the tragic events that led to the death of Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo, here are some frequently asked questions to provide clarity on the situation.
Why did Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo call 911?
Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo called 911 because he was experiencing a mental health episode and needed help.
What actions did the police take before using lethal force?
The police used Tasers and rubber bullets in an attempt to subdue him before resorting to lethal force.
What is the status of the investigation into Yoel's death?
The case is under investigation by the LMPD's Public Integrity Unit, and body camera footage is expected to be released within ten business days.
Did Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo have any prior criminal record?
No, Yoel Roberto Nápoles Ravelo did not have any prior criminal record.