Jeffersontown police have released the names of both victims in Wednesday’s shooting: Maurice E. Stallard, 69, and Vicki Lee Jones, 67 were identified by the coroner’s office.
Stallard was the father of Louisville’s Chief Racial Equity Officer, and Jones was a woman on her way from her home, just blocks away, to pick up some groceries.
Gregory Bush, the shooter in custody, has a criminal past, as well as one wrought with mental illness and racial hostility.
His ex-wife, who filed for protection against Bush, was reportedly called a “ni**er bit**” by him, according to court records.
Bush’s social media pages say that he once was married to a Black woman, and had a Black son. He once posted: “All lives matter, not just Black lives.”
In addition, posts were found criticizing Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players for kneeling protests, and the media for allegedly not covering a mass shooting committed by a Sudanese immigrant. Bush also shared a petition urging the governor to prevent confederate statues from being removed.
Bush has been charged with assault numerous times, and also with menacing a 15-year-old girl in a movie theater bathroom and said, he “thought we were family.”
He posted about his diagnosis and how it had impacted his life as well saying, ” [ I ] worked most of my life and battled mental illness throughout my lifeI’m lucky I made it this far with all the trouble I’ve caused myself when I get off my medicine.”
His wife wrote that in 2003 Bush had been diagnosed “paranoid and was put on medication,” according to court records. “He stopped taking his medication.”
Details about his history include court-ordered mental health treatment, being reported as a “suicide risk” by police, and being ordered to not own any weapons.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said of the shooting: “Our city and our future have no room for anyone who looks at their fellow human beings with hate or discrimination.”
He also took the opportunity to call on state and federal officials to address the gun violence “epidemic” in this country and the need for improved mental health care.
“The hard fact is that most violent crimes are committed with guns, and guns fall under the jurisdiction of the state and federal governments,” Fischer said.
“Every time someone takes a gun and creates a tragedy, what’s the response” asked Fischer. “From too many of our leaders, the ones who have the power to make our country safer, our city safer, our schools and churches and groceries safer, they act as if nothing can be done. That doesn’t sound like the United States of America to me the most powerful, most resourceful country in the world. Why do we pretend that we’re helpless”
Of the loss of his colleague’s father: “This one is especially painful because, as has been reported, one of the victims was the father of a member of my team,” Fischer said.
A Kroger employee has started a fundraiser to help both families. Jones’ family started a GoFundMe page to help long-distance relatives travel to Louisville for her funeral. Her brother just died two weeks ago.
Related Story: Father of Chief Racial Equity Officer in Louisville Murdered by White Man
