LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Chephirah Aiono visits Waterfront Park at least three times a week. If she could do it every day she would. 

What You Need To Know

  • Five people were shot at Louisville’s Big Four Bridge on Saturday

  • At least three victims were juveniles

  • Authorities are looking for a suspect involved in the shooting

  • The incident was a shock to some park visitors

“It’s beautiful. I love to look at the river. It’s really peaceful. I love that there’s this playground here for the kids,” says Aino. “It’s just a good part of my self-care routine.” 

Saturday night, the park was a different scene. 

Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) says three teenagers were shot near the Big Four Bridge in the park. 

The victims were taken to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries. LMPD says victims include males and females, but ages are not readily available. 

Two additional victims were linked to the shooting later. 

“I always feel very, very safe here, so I’m really surprised,” says Aiono. “It’s really sad that that happened.” 

The shooting also took Rodney Fraction by surprise.

Fraction works near Waterfront Park and spends some lunch breaks here. 

“Whether it’s here or anywhere else there’s far too much,” says Fraction. “Me growing up many, many years ago, I mean, there were shootings, but nothing like there is today.” 

Fraction says he remembers talking out issues when he was a teenager. 

“Today, that doesn’t happen. Once the kid gets a certain age they don’t believe in that and they are ready to pull a gun and settle that way and then after it’s over, and they’re sitting in jail, and they realize, ‘Hey, I should have handled that a different way.’ It’s too late,” says Fraction. 

Fraction hopes young people find positive role models to help lead them down the right paths.  

Aiono agrees that a solution is within the community. 

“I have this dream that that building right there that they’re going to build a restaurant in, can become a community center like where they offer classes for kids and maybe like elderly people, affordable free for the community. I feel like more stuff like that, like when people are invested in a place less crime will happen,” says Aiono. 

Aiono believes a shooting at the park is rare.  

She says still feels safe and that it will remain her happy place.

One week ago, a 17-year-old was shot at the Big Four Bridge.  

According to an LMPD report, there have been 174 non-fatal shootings this year. 

LMPD says because of the severity of the injuries, its homicide unit is handling the investigation. 

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the anonymous crime tip hotline at 502-574-LMPD (5673).

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