LOUISVILLE, KY – Victoria Howard, the woman accused of assisting her boyfriend after he allegedly shot Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Andry in February, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident. Following the shooting, investigators learned that Howard had helped Austin Schepers evade arrest.
Investigators revealed that in the hours after the shooting of Deputy Andry, Austin Schepers fled to a residence in the 1800 block of Market Street in New Albany, Howard’s residence.
Detectives believe that Howard was aware that Schepers had allegedly shot a police officer and was wanted by law enforcement. Despite this knowledge, she reportedly used the ride-sharing app Lyft to transport Schepers from her apartment to Craig Street in Louisville, a location just one block west of Wheeler Avenue.
Schepers was ultimately located on Saturday, January 4th, at a home in the 3700 block of Wheeler Avenue in Louisville. He was fatally shot during an encounter with Louisville Metro Police Department officers.
Howard faced charges of assisting a criminal, a level 5 felony, false informing, and a misdemeanor. By entering a guilty plea, she has acknowledged her involvement in these actions following the alleged shooting.
Howard is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15th. The sentencing will determine the legal consequences she will face for her role in assisting Schepers after the violent incident that severely injured Deputy Andry.
Deputy Andry has since been released from a Louisville hospital and has returned home to continue his recovery.
