This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
On June 27, 2020, a shooting in Louisville's Jefferson Square Park left one person dead and another injured, according to the authorities.
Footage posted online showed a man firing over a dozen shots into the crowd, causing protesters to scramble for shelter among tents and park benches.
One man died at the scene, while another person who was shot was found across the street at the Hall of Justice and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the Louisville Metro Police Department stated.
The police cleared the park to investigate the shooting, with detectives working to gather information to identify those involved.
Mayor Greg Fischer expressed his sadness over the violence, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the violence that erupted in Jefferson Square Park tonight, where those who have been voicing their concerns have been gathered. It is a tragedy that this area of peaceful protest is now a crime scene.”
Jefferson Square Park has been a hub for protests against police violence following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
The protests have also been fueled by the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African-American emergency room technician who was shot and killed by Louisville police during a search warrant at her apartment.
