![](https://kubrick.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/shirley-png-1628392436.png?crop=1.00xw:0.837xh;0,0.0146xh&resize=1200:*)
When not in his official uniform, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Shirley was in costume.Since 2014, while building his career in public safety, Shirley worked as an actor on the fright team at the American Horrorplex, a Louisville haunted attraction owned by Travis Boling.“He loved Halloween and he was a Halloween freak,” said Boling. “Every haunt that was in town that was ever open, he was there.”According to Boling, Shirley had the difficult task of carrying a 70 lb. puppet in his character role as a nurse trying to handle a disorderly monster. But, ghosts, horror and the overall thrill of Halloween season are what bonded Shirley and his castmates like family.“We are not just employees here,” said Boling. “Here in the haunted house, there’s a lot of misfits, that just don’t fit in anywhere else and he made sure that they knew that they were one of us, and that we held each other tight.”Beyond making everyone laugh with his brotherly pranks, what they’ll miss most about Shirley is his innate ability to care for others.“Whenever he was with the other cast members, he would make sure that they were doing okay, he would make sure they knew they were loved, and that they would always have somebody to talk to,” Boling said.It’s why they have not yet processed the young deputy’s tragic killing in the early morning hours of Aug. 5.Still in uniform, but working off-duty, Shirley was gunned down while sitting in his pick-up truck at a Shively used car lot.“One of our actresses was talking to him an hour before it happened, doing Snapchat back and forth, sharing funny stories and videos,” said Boling. “That’s how we started our morning and it just ain’t been right since.”Shirley’s castmates will honor their friend and now fallen hero by adding his name and photo on the warehouse wall. It’s their way of choosing to remember the horror and humor he brought in their lives, amid his absence this upcoming Halloween.“Just know that Brandon was a good ‘ole boy, he was one of the good ones,” Boling said.Castmates from The American Horrorplex plan to attend Shirley’s viewing and funeral, set for Aug. 11 and 12.No arrests have been made in the case so far, but $50,000 is being offered for any information leading to a suspect and conviction.Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 502-263-6000, ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS or the Louisville Metro Police at 502-574-5673. Tips can also be submitted at tips.fbi.gov or atftips@atf.gov.
When not in his official uniform, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Shirley was in costume.
Since 2014, while building his career in public safety, Shirley worked as an actor on the fright team at the American Horrorplex, a Louisville haunted attraction owned by Travis Boling.
“He loved Halloween and he was a Halloween freak,” said Boling. “Every haunt that was in town that was ever open, he was there.”
According to Boling, Shirley had the difficult task of carrying a 70 lb. puppet in his character role as a nurse trying to handle a disorderly monster. But, ghosts, horror and the overall thrill of Halloween season are what bonded Shirley and his castmates like family.
“We are not just employees here,” said Boling. “Here in the haunted house, there’s a lot of misfits, that just don’t fit in anywhere else and he made sure that they knew that they were one of us, and that we held each other tight.”
Beyond making everyone laugh with his brotherly pranks, what they’ll miss most about Shirley is his innate ability to care for others.
“Whenever he was with the other cast members, he would make sure that they were doing okay, he would make sure they knew they were loved, and that they would always have somebody to talk to,” Boling said.
It’s why they have not yet processed the young deputy’s tragic killing in the early morning hours of Aug. 5.
Still in uniform, but working off-duty, Shirley was gunned down while sitting in his pick-up truck at a Shively used car lot.
“One of our actresses was talking to him an hour before it happened, doing Snapchat back and forth, sharing funny stories and videos,” said Boling. “That’s how we started our morning and it just ain’t been right since.”
Shirley’s castmates will honor their friend and now fallen hero by adding his name and photo on the warehouse wall. It’s their way of choosing to remember the horror and humor he brought in their lives, amid his absence this upcoming Halloween.
“Just know that Brandon was a good ‘ole boy, he was one of the good ones,” Boling said.
Castmates from The American Horrorplex plan to attend Shirley’s viewing and funeral, set for Aug. 11 and 12.
No arrests have been made in the case so far, but $50,000 is being offered for any information leading to a suspect and conviction.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 502-263-6000, ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS or the Louisville Metro Police at 502-574-5673. Tips can also be submitted at tips.fbi.gov or atftips@atf.gov.