FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 17, 2026) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today action by the Attorney General’s Violent Crime Reduction Team (VRT) has led to additional criminal indictments against three previously convicted felons. The Attorney General established the first-ever Louisville-based VRT in concert with the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to target the city’s most violent offenders.
A Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted Ka’Ron Tyrus, 22, on two counts of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony), one count of Fleeing or Evading Police in the First Degree (Class C Felony) and one count of Fraudulent Firearm Transaction (Class D Felony). Police found Tyrus in December 2025 possessing a handgun he illegally purchased. According to the indictment, while fleeing from police, Tyrus endangered the lives of others.
A Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted Mariah Hay, 26, on one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony), one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree Schedule II (Class D Felony), and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Schedule I Hallucinogen (Class B Misdemeanor). On January 10th, Hay was found to be in possession of a handgun, meth and marijuana.
Download photo of Hay here.
A Jefferson County Grand Jury also indicted William Mitchell, 47, on one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony). Court documents state on January 20th he was in possession of a handgun after being previously convicted of felony charges.
Download photo of Mitchell here.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the cases. Assistant Attorney General Critt Cunningham will prosecute the cases against Tyrus and Hay on behalf of the Commonwealth. Assistant Attorney General Hammad Khan will prosecute the case against Mitchell on behalf of the Commonwealth.
The Kentucky Supreme Court’s rule on trial publicity limits information the Office can provide publicly. The charges in an indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Background
In October 2024, Attorney General Coleman joined Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina Whethers, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David L. Nicholson to announce the Attorney General’s Violent Crime Reduction Team, a first-of-its-kind collaboration among their offices to combat violent crime in Louisville.
General Coleman established a new Attorney General’s Office location in downtown Louisville, now staffed by three prosecutors and a detective. The downtown office space used by the VRT was secured in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk Nicholson. The team is collaborating with Commonwealth’s Attorney Whethers’ Office to be assigned and prosecute cases. Two of the prosecutors have also been sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, allowing them to bring the full force of both the state and federal governments against criminals to protect Kentucky families.
According to an agreement between the Attorney General and the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the dedicated prosecutors and investigators from the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit and the Department of Criminal Investigations will handle select cases involving nonfatal shootings, convicted felons in possession of a firearm, Louisville’s Group Violence Intervention Program (GVI) and the Prohibited Firearms Possessor program.