A man was fatally shot by authorities early Monday in Kentucky as law enforcement officials tried to break up a large crowd, police said.
Louisville police and National Guard soldiers responded just after midnight to the supermarket parking lot where a crowd gathered amid George Floyd protests in the city, WLKY reported.
Cops and National Guard soldiers started breaking up the group when someone opened fire, prompting law enforcement officials to shoot back, Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad told the station.
One person was killed, although it’s unclear if the victim was the person who fired at law enforcement officials, Conrad said.
Several persons of interest were being interviewed in connection with the shooting. It’s unclear if the crowd was part of protests in the city Sunday over Floyd’s death, the station reports.
“It’s very clear that many people do not trust the police,” Conrad told reporters during a news conference Monday. “That is an issue we’re going to work on and work through.”
The identities of the victim and the persons of interest were not released early Monday, WHAS reported.
Investigators are expected to provide an update later Monday after reviewing security footage from the scene of Dino’s Food Mart, according to WDRB.
A 9 p.m. curfew was in effect Sunday in Louisville, where ongoing protesters angry in the aftermath of Floyd’s death and that of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in March led to 40 arrests Sunday, WLKY reported.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said city police officers were shot at during protests late Saturday, but none of them were struck by the gunfire. Three officers were in a vehicle that was hit by at least one bullet, Fischer said.
With Post wires