LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One person is dead and a second person injured after shooting broke out in Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville Saturday night.

 

What You Need To Know


  • One person dead, one person injured

  • Jefferson Square Park no longer allowing campers

  • Mayor expresses saddness.

  • Peaceful daytime protests will be allowed to continue.

 Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) says the report of shots fired at the park came in at approximately 9 p.m. The next report into LMPD was that officers with the Sheriff's Department were in the park and were performing life-saving measures on a man who eventually died at the scene.  

A little while later, LMPD received word of another shooting victim at the Hall of Justice. that unidentified person was taken to University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Spectrum News 1 received a video of what happened from Maxwell Mitchell. As he is running for safety in the park, you can hear a significant number of shots being fired.

We spoke to Mitchell afterward and he told us, "I knew what I was getting in to. I wanted to stand with my brothers and sisters and fight for justice and one of the biggest things was the phrase has been 'We aren't leaving until justice is found' and I look forward to continuing that."

Mitchell says he will be back in the park Sunday. 

Mayor Greg Fischer stated on his Facebook page that he was saddened by the events in Jefferson Square saying, "It is a tragedy that this area of peaceful protest is now a crime scene."

The park, which has been the hub of protests since the death of Louisville EMT Breonna Taylor, was cleared and secured so homicide detectives could begin their investigation.  

Protesters had been camping in the park for the past few weeks, but after Saturday's shooting LMPD says they are clearing the park permanently. No one will be allowed to camp out in the park. Peaceful gatherings can continue in the park during the day.

Rosie Henderson has camped in the park for several weeks, she told us, "This is now bigger than Breonna Taylor and we're not gonna let this stop us."

Louisville Metro Public Works is working to pack up the tents in the park and secure all the belongings so they can be returned to their owners. Owners can pick up their belongings at 600 Meriwether Avenue Sunday.