Michael Hristov, the serial killer who used Reddit to spread news about his own crimes, has died in a shootout with Louisville SWAT.
In December 2025, a mysterious Reddit user began posting about a serial killer in Louisville, who was 'hunting' unhoused people. As it transpired, this was the killer himself, trying to create a sensation. Police used those posts to identify the killer.
The Reddit Posts
On December 21, 2025, an unusual post appeared in the r/Louisville subreddit. The author of these posts claimed to have learned about several murders of unhoused people. The victims had allegedly been found near Interstate 65.
The problem: According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, there were no known cases matching this description at the time.
Just a few days later, however, two attacks occurred that shared striking similarities with the Reddit post. On December 25, an unhoused man survived a knife attack. A day later, police officers discovered the body of Michael Howard, 52, a member of the local unhoused community.
Investigators concluded that Howard had already been killed on December 24. Symbols had been carved into his body, resembling those described in the Reddit post just a few days earlier.
A Digital Trail Leading Straight to Hristov
During the investigation, Michael Hristov, who was 21 years old at the time, became a focus of the police inquiry. According to authorities, the IP address associated with the Reddit post was traced back to his internet connection.
This led investigators to suspect that Hristov himself had spread the story about an unknown serial killer—before the attacks later described in the post had even taken place. The alleged insider report may therefore have been part of a deliberate staging.
Further digital and forensic evidence reportedly strengthened the case against Hristov. According to police, this included location data, video footage, DNA evidence, and images found in his cloud account.
Investigators linked him both to Howard’s death and to the knife attack that the other victim survived. Police also stated that Hristov had previously spoken about wanting to “hunt” unhoused people. He was reportedly deeply interested in serial killers and mass shooters and had abused animals.
Attempted Arrest Ends in Fatal Police Shooting
Hristov was charged with murder, assault, and abuse of a corpse. But when the Louisville SWAT team attempted to arrest him, Hristov opened fire and barricaded himself inside the building.
According to police, he told emergency dispatchers during the operation that he was armed, did not intend to surrender, and wanted officers to shoot him.
He later left the building wearing protective gear and holding a handgun. After he allegedly failed to comply with officers’ commands, a SWAT officer opened fire. Hristov died at the scene.
As a result, no trial took place. The allegations against him were therefore never conclusively examined by a court.
Was Hristov the Real Killer?
On social media, Hristov is now referred to as the “Reddit Killer.” And while the evidence appears quite convincing, authorities have been keen to remind the public that a formal trial never took place.
The police are continuing to investigate so they can both confirm their suspicions and investigate whether Hristov may have been responsible for further acts of violence against unhoused people.
Louisville’s Vulnerable Were Left Unheard
While the digital trail eventually led police to Hristov's door, advocates for the unhoused argue that the tragedy could have been prevented. Following the shootout, LMPD investigators revealed that unhoused residents near the I-65 overpass had spent months reporting a young man in tactical gear harassing people at camp sites.
Because these early warning signs were not aggressively pursued, Hristov’s behavior escalated from harassment to brutal violence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the systemic vulnerability of the unhoused community, where threats are often underreported, and victims' safety is treated with less urgency until a tragedy forces the public to look.