LMPD Officer Nickolas Wilt Discharged from Frazier Rehab Institute, Returning Home

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After spending more than three and a half months in the care of UofL Health, Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Nickolas Wilt, who was injured in the line of duty, was discharged from the hospital and is returning home.

Officer Wilt was responding to an active shooter situation on April 10 at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville when he was shot and rushed to UofL Health – UofL Hospital. He remained in critical condition for nearly a month.

After multiple surgeries and procedures at both UofL Hospital and Jewish Hospital, his condition improved enough to be transferred to Frazier Rehabilitation Institute on May 10 to begin neuro and physical rehabilitation. Officer Wilt is still recovering from a traumatic brain injury and will continue his therapy at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute through outpatient care.

"Frazier Rehab, UofL Hospital, Jewish Hospital. The staff from everybody has been truly amazing to our family. And because of the work they did, we get to take our brother home today," his brother, Zack Wilt, said. "Nick gets to go home today, sleep in his own bed, with his own TV, and he's been asking for a steak dinner for a couple of weeks now."

"There are very few programs in the country like ours who can take care of an individual with such severe traumatic brain injuries and help him to achieve the progress that he has made," said Dr. Darryl Kaelin, Medical Director of Frazier Rehab. "This is a true tribute to his interdisciplinary rehabilitation team that includes physicians, rehabilitation nurses, physical, occupational, speech therapist, psychologist, pulmonary rehabilitation specialists, nutrition specialist and chaplains. Together, we have created an environment in which he could put the work in and make the progress that he's made. So as I like to say, we create little miracles every day, and we certainly are witnessing that today."

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and LMPD police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel joined Wilt’s family and health care workers for an emotional sendoff to celebrate Wilt’s release from the hospital 109 days after the shooting.