Louisville man charged with kidnapping, robbery after investigators say he used a fake gun to force victim to drive to an ATM

A Louisville man is facing kidnapping and robbery charges after investigators said he used a fake gun to threaten an adult woman and force her to drive him to an ATM, according to a WAVE report published August 17, 2026.

The report identifies the defendant as Alexander Luckenbill, 32. He was arrested in connection with the incident, which investigators characterized as a kidnapping and a robbery involving a weapon that was not real.

WAVE reported that Luckenbill was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping of an adult. The charges stem from allegations that the victim was compelled to help the suspect reach an automated teller machine while he controlled the situation, with the threat conveyed through the weapon.

According to the account, the events began when Luckenbill confronted the victim in Louisville, using what authorities described as a fake gun to intimidate and coerce her. Investigators say the confrontation escalated into a scheme intended to obtain money, culminating in the victim being forced to drive the suspect to an ATM.

Kidnapping charges in Kentucky generally require proof that a person was restrained or compelled against their will for specified purposes. First-degree robbery carries additional legal elements tied to the use or threatened use of force and the presence of an aggravated circumstance, such as a weapon or the threat of one. Prosecutors will need to support the alleged facts with evidence at the next stages of the court process.

Once charges are filed, the case moves into standard pretrial procedure, including arraignment, review of bond or detention status, and scheduling for hearings or trial. If the matter remains contested, a judge or jury will determine whether the state’s evidence meets the burden of proof.

For the victim and the community, cases involving threats with a firearm, even when the weapon is alleged to be fake, raise immediate public-safety concerns. They also underscore the risks faced by people who are confronted with coercion in public or near cash access points like ATMs.

The next step for the case will be to proceed through court with the formal prosecution of the kidnapping and robbery counts, where Luckenbill will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations and where the charges can be tested through discovery, motions, and court proceedings.