LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two families have waited two years for justice to be served in the murders that happened at a Louisville Kroger back in 2018.
On Tuesday, the man responsible learned his fate.
Judge Annie O'Connell sentenced Gregory Bush to two life sentences for the murder of Maurice Stallard and Vicki Jones. O'Connell also levied charges of attempted murder and wanton endangerment. Bush is not eligible for parole or probation. He originally faced the death penalty, but commonwealth's attorneys took that off the table in exchange for a swift guilty plea. As agreed, Bush changed his plea to "guilty, but mentally ill."
The commonwealth's attorney told Spectrum News 1 the "but mentally ill" caveat affected nothing in terms of legal action. Rather, it allows Bush to receive psychological treatment while incarcerated. He has a documented history of mental illness and had to prove his competence pre-trial.
Prosecutors detailed how Bush stalked Stallard and his grandson through the aisles of a Jeffersontown Kroger on October 24, 2018, before shooting Stallard repeatedly, killing him where he stood.
Bush then concealed his pistol and walked to the parking lot, where he shot and killed Jones as she loaded groceries into her vehicle. Neither victim is believed to have been known to Bush.
Bush is a white man, while both victims were Black. Police later announced Bush had tried to enter a nearby predominantly Black church shortly before traveling to the Kroger. In a separate federal case, prosecutors accuse Bush of committing a hate crime.
In the courtroom Tuesday, five family members of Stallard and Jones spoke directly to Bush.
Among statements of anger and disbelief, multiple family members said they hoped Bush can rehabilitate while in prison. Having two years to collect their thoughts, many of their statements were collected and deliberate.
Reporters were not allowed in the courtroom and relied on a Zoom feed during the hearing, as well as a more complete video provided by the court after its conclusion.
In that video, during a statement from Vickie Jones' sister, Samuella Gathright, Bush felt compelled to speak.
Gathright stood and said, "I thought if I looked you in the eye and talked to you, that would be one step of my healing."
"I hope so," Bush can faintly be heard from across the room.
"But you have made me doubt so much," Gathright continued. "If my sister was here today she would say, 'Just put him in jail. I don’t want him to be able to hurt nobody.' But she wouldn’t wish any harm to you, any harm."
The lead defense attorney confirmed to Spectrum News 1 that Bush said those three words, supposedly meant to comfort the sister of the woman he brutally killed.
After the hearing concluded, Bush was escorted away, through a back door, away from our camera positioned at the front of the building. Neither the commonwealth's attorneys nor the defense spoke on camera. Kellie Watson, daughter to Maurice Stallard, spoke with reporters outside the courthouse.
"It's a very emotional day," she said. "It brought back all of the feelings from that day; remembering our loss, remembering the pain. But we are glad that there is a resolution and satisfied with the outcome of today."
Gregory Bush is scheduled to appear in federal court on February 18, 2021, where he is expected to change his plea in that case as well.