LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mourners held a candlelight vigil Saturday evening for Louisville activist, Kris Smith, who was shot and killed the day prior on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Smith made national news for livestreaming during the fatal shooting of David McAtee in early June this year.
“He was loving, caring; he had a good soul to him, like just tragic, man,” said Smith’s friend Chris Wells.
Wells was one of the dozens of community members gathered in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood at the corner N. 26th & Duncan Streets in Louisville to pay their respects to Smith, who the community said was shot, Friday.
Jefferson County Coroner’s office hasn’t released any information on a victim from a fatal shooting that Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said officers responded to at about 11:30 a.m. Fri., Dec. 11, 2020 at the location where the vigil was held.
In the same email, LMPD said, “When officers arrived, they located a male inside a vehicle that had been shot. He was transported to University Hospital in critical condition. The LMPD homicide unit is investigating. There are no suspect(s).”
Around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, comments started pouring in on Smith’s Facebook page — friends paying respects, and they continue.
Wells, who said he was friends with Smith for 15 years, said Smith was a perfect example of change.
“This is sad; like, this guy didn’t have no enemies. None. And enemies he did have, that’s the reason why he got in the system, but he changed his life after he did his time, and he hit the streets, ground, like full forward. He’s educated. He gave back to the kids,” Wells told Spectrum News 1.
Smith gained notoriety from his livestreams. On June 1, 2020 he was recording when LMPD and the National Guard showed up to break up a crowd in Louisville’s West End due to curfew in place because of protests in downtown Louisville.
Smith captured the audio of crossfire, which resulted in the fatal shooting of BBQ owner David McAtee by a National Guard member. Smith’s video was used by local and national media to report on the incident.
Locally, Smith gained recognition for leading protests in Louisville.
Protester Le’Andrea McCampbell said she met Smith the night McAtee was killed, and they grew closer as friends during the protests.
“The community is hurting. He was well loved in the community. Anytime that he got on the megaphone, and he spoke, you wanted to listen,” McCampbell said.
McCampbell said the last march Smith led was a week ago. She said Smith educated her throughout the protests and described him as having a heart of gold.
“Like give you the shirt off of his back. He is just, he’s gonna be so missed. He is gonna be so missed. The community is really hurting right now.”
LMPD said they are looking for a black, late model Ram truck, four door, used to commit a murder on Dec. 11, 2020 in the Portland neighborhood at 26th and Duncan Street.
“The vehicle is trimmed in chrome and may have tires in the back when located. Vehicle was occupied by two black males at the time the shooting occurred,” LMPD said. If you have any information, you can call LMPD at 502-574-7055.
Wells said anyone who wants to pay their respects can do so by bringing flowers and balloons to the corner where the vigil was held at N. 26th & Duncan Streets in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood.
This is the second death of a Louisville protester due to gun violence within less than a month. Hamza “Travis” Nagdy was fatally shot on Nov. 23, 2020. The 21-year-old was known for carrying a megaphone, and he led many marches during Louisville protests for justice for Breonna Taylor.