Police said the victim was found outside a vehicle in a ditch near Pleasure Ridge Park.
LOUISVILLE, KY — A 15-year-old girl has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old man who was found outside a vehicle in a ditch in southwest Louisville, police said, as investigators continued searching for other suspects and witnesses.
The case drew attention days before Christmas as Louisville Metro Police said the girl was arrested on allegations that she helped in a deadly robbery. Authorities have not released her name because she is a juvenile, and detectives have not publicly identified the shooter. Police said they believe more arrests are likely because a large crowd was nearby when the gunfire erupted and investigators think others saw what happened.
Officers were called at about 4:14 p.m. Sat., Dec. 20, to the 3000 block of Fordhaven Road, off St. Anthony Church Road near the Pleasure Ridge Park area, police said. When officers arrived, they found a vehicle in a ditch and a man outside the vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to police and the county coroner. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and was later identified as Milton Ritchie Jr., 20. Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey later described the arrest as an example of detectives “able to make an arrest” quickly in a homicide that he said was “always concerning” because of the suspect’s age.
Police said the teen was arrested Mon., Dec. 22, and charged with murder and robbery under Kentucky’s complicity statute, meaning prosecutors allege she helped or took part in the crimes but did not necessarily fire the shots. In court records and public statements, authorities did not describe what role they believe the girl played, and they did not say what items, if any, were taken from Ritchie. The Louisville Metro Police homicide unit is leading the investigation, and detectives have asked anyone with information to come forward as they work to determine who pulled the trigger, what happened in the moments before the shooting, and how many people were involved.
Investigators said early reports from 911 callers and witnesses pointed to a sizable group of people in the area at the time of the shooting. Police have not said whether the gunfire started inside the vehicle or outside it, whether Ritchie was driving or riding as a passenger, or how far he was from the vehicle when he was found. Authorities also have not said whether they have recovered a weapon, reviewed surveillance video, or identified a motive beyond the robbery allegation included in the charges. In cases involving juveniles, many details remain sealed as the matter moves through family court, and Louisville police have said they will not release the girl’s identity.
Ritchie’s death added to a string of shootings that have prompted city leaders and police to focus on violent crime and youth involvement in serious offenses. Humphrey, who was sworn in as Louisville’s police chief in late 2024, has frequently spoken about juvenile crime in public remarks and has highlighted arrests as a way to provide answers for families and accountability for suspects. In this case, investigators indicated they expect more charges, an assessment that suggests detectives believe the crowd mentioned by witnesses includes people who know more about the events leading up to the gunfire, the identities of those involved, or the vehicle’s movements before it ended up in a ditch along Fordhaven Road.
For Ritchie’s family, the timing has been especially painful. His mother, Hortense Madison, told a local TV station that her family was facing the holidays without the person they said kept them together. Madison said her son visited his father at a hospital earlier on the day he was killed and later called her to talk about everyday plans, including grocery shopping. She said he called her back after they hung up to tell her he loved her, a final conversation she described as words that would stay with her. Family members said Ritchie, known as “MJ,” was loving and gentle, and they said they were holding on to the belief that justice will follow.
Procedurally, the case is expected to move through Kentucky’s juvenile court system in Jefferson County, where a judge can decide what records are public and whether a defendant is held in detention while a case proceeds. Prosecutors can also seek to transfer certain serious cases to adult court under Kentucky law, though authorities had not announced any such step as of Christmas Day. The complicity charges indicate investigators believe more than one person took part, and police have suggested the investigation is still active as detectives interview witnesses and collect any video, phone data, and forensic evidence connected to the shooting scene. Any future arrests would likely be announced through police briefings, court filings, or public booking records, depending on the age of the suspects.
In the neighborhood near Pleasure Ridge Park, the scene on Fordhaven Road has been described by investigators as chaotic, with a crowd present during the shooting and a vehicle left in a ditch. Police have not said how long Ritchie had been there when officers arrived, but they noted that first responders attempted life-saving measures before he was pronounced dead. Authorities have asked for help from anyone who may have been nearby on the afternoon of Dec. 20, including people who may have been in the crowd, residents who might have doorbell or exterior security cameras, and drivers who may have passed through the area and seen vehicles or people leaving shortly after the gunfire.
The investigation remained open Thursday, Dec. 25, with one juvenile charged and detectives saying additional suspects are expected. Police have not announced a new briefing date, and the next major milestone is likely to be the teen’s next court appearance as investigators continue building the case and seeking further arrests.
Author note: Last updated December 25, 2025.