Huge Fight in Courtroom as Murder Suspect Walks Out, Video Shows

A courtroom brawl erupted when the families of two murder victims lunged towards the suspect as he was led back to a holding cell.

Four people were arrested after the chaotic scenes broke out during a preliminary hearing for Paul Wade at a court in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday. Wade stands accused of shooting dead Edward Lamont Smith, 26, and Alexis McCrary, 25, last month.

The 31-year-old taunted relatives as he was led past them where they were sitting watching the proceedings, the Jefferson County District Court judge later told reporters.

Several people suddenly stood up and hurled themselves towards Wade, with some standing to climb over the public benches to reach him, amid screaming and shouting. Court deputies ran forward to try to hold them back, while handcuffed Wade, who was wearing an orange jumpsuit, stood back pressed against a wall.

Judge Anne Haynie could be seen calling out for help, but the situation escalated and at one point a man clambered over her desk to try to reach Wade, who ducked through an open door into the judge's chambers behind her to try to escape the fight. The man chased after him joined by at least one other relative.

The judge pressed the panic button and could then be heard screaming repeatedly, "Help! Help" as she called for more deputies to try to contain the courtroom brawl. A shocked looking teenage girl sat next to her, and the judge later revealed she was an 8th grader who was shadowing her because she wanted to be a judge one day.

The whole incident was caught on camera.

Arrest records, seen by WHAS 11, reportedly revealed pepper spray was used to try to regain order in the court.

Haynie, describing to WHAS 11 what happened, said the hearing was the first time the family had seen Wade in custody. But he said an expletive to them as he was being walked away "and the family reacted to it," she said. "It was just bodies on bodies, arms and legs." She walked down into the court and tried to appeal for calm. Footage showed her telling a woman being restrained by police, "The best thing you can do is remain calm."

Discussing what could have been done differently, Haynie is reported as saying a missing door that allowed Wade to run up next to the judge's bench should have been replaced, more deputies could have been in the courtroom, and she could have spoken to the family beforehand to assess whether emotions were running too high.

But she added: "The court system is a long process and they are going to have to get their emotions in check, understand what the system is about, but not ever act that way in a courtroom again."

Newsweek has reached out to court officials for further comment.

Joshua Whetstone, Monnetra Cain, Isaiah Smith and Joshua Smith were all charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental operations. Isaiah and Joshua Smith also face charges of assault and resisting arrest. Discussing the outcome, Haynie said: "So no one wins. Absolutely no one wins."

Wade is accused of killing Smith and McCrary on the Saturday afternoon of September 10 in the Russell neighborhood. He was arrested on October 13 and charged with two counts of murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. A not guilty plea was entered for Wade at his arraignment earlier this month.