LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg said he is "blessed" that no one was injured when a gunman shot at him in his campaign offices Monday morning. 

What You Need To Know

  • Offices of Democratic mayoral candidate Greg Greenberg shot at

  • Neither Greenberg or his staff were injured

  • Louisville Metro Police responded to the area just after 10 a.m.

  • Metro Council president David James called the shooting an "assassination attempt"
The shooting took place just after 10 a.m. when Greenberg and four campaign staffers were meeting in his Butchertown Market office.
 
"A man walked into our office," Greenberg said in a Monday evening press conference. "When we greeted him, he pulled out a gun, aimed directly at me, and began shooting."
 
Greenberg described one member of his campaign team slamming the door shut on the gunman. "Then he and other teammates that were close to the door just threw tables and desks to barricade us in," he said. "I'm very fortunate to have a great team of brave people who responded in that way."
 
Greenberg said one of the bullets grazed his sweater but that everyone in the office was unhurt. “We are shaken, but safe," he said. 

At a news conference Monday morning, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Chief Erika Shields said a suspect was taken into custody and police believe that he was acting alone.

There is no known motive for the shooting, Shields said, but she emphasized that there are several different angles that LMPD are looking into. 

“Mr. Greenberg is Jewish, so there's that,” she said. “We don't know if it’s political or if we are dealing with someone who has mental issues or is venomous. We have to really keep an open mind.”

Shields said the suspect was detained “in a relatively short amount of time” outside of the Butchertown Market building.

The FBI is working with LMPD on the investigation, Shields said.

"We are aware of the incident and responded to the scene," Timothy Beam, a spokesperson for the FBI field office, said in an email. "At this point, we are assisting the Louisville Metro Police Department and attempting to determine if any federal crime took place.

The scene outside of Craig Greenberg's office (Spectrum News 1/Eileen Street)

An attorney and former CEO, Greenberg, is one of 12 candidates running for the chance to be the next mayor of Louisville. Greenberg made a splash early this summer with a campaign finance report showing that his campaign had raised $442,000. That total came from nearly 600 donors, with an average contribution of $719.

After two straight years of record homicides in Louisville, Greenberg has made public safety a key part of his campaign platform. The events of Monday give him more "resolve" to tackle the issue, he said. 

"Too many Louisville families have experienced the trauma of gun violence," he said. "To many in Louisville were not as blessed as my team and I work today to survive. Clearly, much more work needs to be done to end the senseless gun violence and make Louisville a safer place for everyone."

(Craig Greenberg)

Just last week, one third of Metro Council’s Democratic caucus announced their support of Greenberg as Louisville’s next mayor. The group included Council President David James (District 6), Cassie Chambers Armstrong (District 8), Keisha Dorsey (District 3), Markus Winkler (District 17), Nicole George (District 21), and Donna Purvis (District 5).

Purvis told Spectrum News 1, “I am sorry to hear about this unfortunate incident. Thank God everyone is okay. I know he is on a mission to serve this city. I hope nothing gets in the way of the things he wants to do for the great city of Louisville.”

This is a developing story. Stay with Spectrum News 1 for updates.

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